What are nitazines, the drugs stronger than heroin that killed two people in the UK?
Image credits: Getty Images (Representative image)
There is no upside to consuming drugs. While one may feel a sudden high that makes them forget all the lows of life for a while, their health will only suffer from the consumption of drugs.
Take the case of a 28-year-old man and a 20-year-old woman who both died in suspected drug overdoses from highly potent synthetic opioids. An investigation into the "sudden deaths" of the man and woman in Southall on 26 May is underway, said the Metropolitan Police.
"This is following reports that the individuals allegedly passed away after taking an illicit substance in the form of a green pill," a spokesperson for the force added.
The Loop, a drug testing charity said the pills consumed by the two contained synthetic opioids called Nitazenes which can be "50 to 500 times stronger than heroin."
Ealing Council said that the pills consumed by the two people who died had the number 80 on one side and possibly 'OP' on the other. The Cause, a nightclub in East London posted about the pills on their Instagram account informing people that there have been "several hospitalizations across multiple London venues."
The West London council has also issued a warning on the same.
What are Nitazenes?
Image credits: Getty Images
Nitazenes are laboratory-made high-strength synthetic opioid drugs that have effects similar to heroin. Originally developed in 1950s by researchers in Switzerland as an alternative to morphine, it was abandoned in clinical trials due to concerns about harmful effects.
Since their effects can be 50 to 100 times higher than heroin, users have absolutely no idea of their potency.
Once inside, the drug suppresses the respiratory system which leads to people dying due to loss of breath. However, the symptoms can be reversed by taking Naloxone, an antidote.
A
study
published in The Lancet in 2024 stated that in the UK, nitazenes had been detected in substances sold as other opioids, benzodiazepines and cannabis products. Thus, one may not have any idea of what they are consuming and the risks they face.
Most recent government data from May 2023 to June 2024, stated that 18 deaths were linked to nitazenes in London and 179 in England.
According to an information
bulletin
by the Inter-American Drug Abuse Control Commission (CICAD), it was in 2019 that nitazenes emerged in the illicit drug market in Europe and spread to North America, South America, Asia and Oceania. Today, at least 13 different types of nitzenes are known and out of them the most prevalent is isonitazene (ISO).
ISO is 250 to 900 times more stronger than morphine and the most potent nitazene is up to 4,300 times stronger than morphine.
These drugs are highly addictive and lead to disorientation, seizures, central nervous system or respiratory depression, cardiac arrest and more.
Why and how do people use Nitazenes?
Well, for similar reasons they consume any other drug. Nitazenes are synthetically engineered to mimic the effects of traditional opioids, Thus, people may use them for physical, mental or emotional disorders or to experience similar euphoria, sleepiness and reduced pain as by opioids.
Nitazenes are available in numerous forms such as pills, powders, and sprays. Additionally, they can be pure or mixed with other drugs.
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