27/06/2024
Just when you think you know all the drug names another one emerges except this new drug is very dangerous.
The opioid crisis has been an ongoing public health emergency, with synthetic opioids like fentanyl significantly contributing to the rise in overdose deaths. Recently, a new class of synthetic opioids, known as nitazenes, has emerged, posing a further threat to communities already grappling with the opioid epidemic.
A significant reduction in o***m production in Afghanistan may result in synthetic opioids such as nitazenes filling the gap, but they are also cheaper and easier to produce than plant-based opioids.
This blog post aims to shed light on nitazenes, their dangers, and the need for increased awareness and response strategies. The drug is stronger than fentanyl and hundreds of times more potent than he**in.
Nitazenes are a group of powerful synthetic opioids that were first developed in the mid-20th century as potential painkillers. However, due to their high potency and potential for abuse, they were never approved for medical use. Nitazenes work by binding to the same opioid receptors in the brain as other opioids, but they are significantly more potent than morphine and even fentanyl.
That spells danger on all levels.
Nitazenes are exceptionally potent, with some being many times stronger than fentanyl. This high potency increases the risk of overdose and death even with small quantities. Naloxone (Narcan) is a life-saving medication used to reverse opioid overdoses. However, due to the high potency of nitazenes, higher or multiple doses of naloxone may be required to counteract their effects, complicating emergency responses.
The emergence of nitazenes is a concerning development in the ongoing opioid crisis. Their high potency and the challenges they present to public health and safety highlight the need for increased awareness, enhanced surveillance, and coordinated response strategies. Emphasis in dealing with an overdose is still the same, making sure they are breathing, turning an unconscious person onto their side and seeking assistance from the paramedics quickly.
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