COLUMBUS, Ohio— The Ohio Attorney General’s Office warns of the emergence of a dangerous synthetic opiate more powerful than fentanyl.
Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost in a statement released today said, “Frankenstein opioids are even more lethal than the drugs already responsible for so many overdose deaths. Law enforcement and the public need to pay attention to these emerging hazards.”
According to the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI), “nitazene compounds – from a drug class known as benzimidazole-opioids – were originally synthesized in the 1950s to research their analgesic effects. They have not been approved for medical use anywhere in the world but are currently being made in clandestine labs.”
BCI reported that since the beginning of 2022 there have been 143 nitazene cases in Ohio. This is an increase from the 27 cases reported around the same time last year.
The AG’s Office says that nitazenes are being found combined with other drugs such as fentanyl, tramadol, cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, and PCP.
Nitazene can be up to 40 times more powerful than fentanyl, said one medical expert.
Officials have told law enforcement as well as first responders that nitazene patients usually require more doses of the overdose reversal drug Narcan in order to save their life.
The full BCI bulletin can be found by visiting https://www.ohioattorneygeneral.gov/Files/Briefing-Room/News-Releases/BCI-Bulletin-Vol-18-02-Nitazenes-(Public).aspx
