Written by Steve B | Updated on Oct 20, 2024
As if the opioid crisis wasn’t alarming enough with the prevalence of fentanyl, a new and even more potent drug is now making its way through California. Nitazine, also known as ISO, is raising serious concerns among law enforcement and health officials. While it hasn’t been detected in Central California yet, authorities are already preparing for its inevitable arrival.
What is Nitazine?
Nitazine is a synthetic opioid that was developed in the 1950s, around the same time as fentanyl. However, it was deemed too dangerous for medical use due to its potency. Bob Pennal, a retired Narcotics Specialist from the California Department of Justice Bureau of Narcotic Enforcement, explains:
> “The most popular is isotonydasine, metatonitaine, basically it’s a synthetic opiate, exactly like fentanyl. It’s just more powerful.”
The Danger of Nitazine
What makes nitazine particularly dangerous is its resistance to naloxone, the standard opioid overdose reversal drug. Pennal notes:
> “So if you can imagine, when you had a fentanyl overdose, you would take the reversal drug Naloxone, and you’d have to take a couple of those. Well, this is so powerful you may have to take four dosages of naloxone.”
This resistance to naloxone significantly reduces the window of time in which an overdose can be successfully reversed, making nitazine overdoses potentially more lethal than those caused by fentanyl.
Preparing for the Threat
Although nitazine hasn’t been seized in the Central Valley yet, local law enforcement agencies are taking proactive steps to prepare for its arrival. The Fresno County Sheriff’s Office is considering carrying higher doses of naloxone to combat this new threat.
Tony Botti from the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office explains their strategy:
> “Right now we have a 4 mg nasal spray that we use on people, this product Kloxxado is 8mg so twice as much in one canister. So if you’re carrying around 16 instead of 8, then if you come across someone who’s in really bad shape, obviously, your chances of saving them go up significantly.”
The Implications
The emergence of nitazine represents a dangerous escalation in the opioid crisis. Its increased potency and resistance to naloxone make it a formidable threat to public health. This development underscores the need for:
1. Continued vigilance and preparation by law enforcement and health services
2. Increased public awareness about the dangers of synthetic opioids
3. Enhanced strategies for overdose prevention and treatment
4. Ongoing research into more potent overdose reversal medications
As we continue to grapple with the opioid epidemic, the arrival of drugs like nitazine serves as a stark reminder of the evolving nature of this crisis. It calls for adaptive strategies, increased resources, and a renewed commitment to addressing the root causes of substance abuse and addiction.
Stay informed, stay safe, and remember that help is available for those struggling with addiction. If you or someone you know is battling substance abuse, don’t hesitate to reach out to local health services or addiction support hotlines.
Some information for this post found via an article at ABC30 news.
Steve B
Steve is a tech lead for digital publishing, security, and tech performance enhancement.
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