Latest news with #Nitazene
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
DEA Houston warns of synthetic opioid hitting Houston and surrounding areas
The Brief DEA Houston warns of the synthetic opioid Nitazene, saying it's 25% more potent than fentanyl. DEA Houston says they have seen a major increase in overdoses and seizures in the last year. A mother who lost her son to fentanyl is advocating for change and shares her message for families. HOUSTON - The Houston field office for the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) is putting out a serious and stern warning about a synthetic drug called Nitazene that's leading to seizures and overdoses in teens and adults. What they're saying The DEA says Harris, Fort Bend, Montgomery and Brazoria County have all been impacted by Nitazene, which is 25% more potent than fentanyl. Special Agent William Kimbell with the DEA says Nitazene, a killer synthetic drug, has been in our area since 2022. "In the last year, we've become more and more concerned because our number of seizures have gone up in between November and February of this year. We have had a 15% increase of overdoses from Nitazene in Houston," said Special Agent Kimbell. "Nitazene is a typical opioid. It suppresses your breathing, it suppresses your blood pressure, and your body is so suppressed, you can't breathe anymore." Special Agent Kimbell says the drug is impacting people in a wide age range. "We've seen overdoses now from the ages of 17 to 59, so really. If you are buying a pill from someone you don't know, or you are using a pill that you don't know where it came from, it could have Ntazene in it and it's extremely dangerous," said Special Agent Kimbell, "Its synthetic route is very hard to make, and you need lab experience, but we are seeing Nitazene that are made in China, and they are purchased online and smuggled into the US in parcels, and locally, we are seeing drug gangs take fentanyl and Nitazene and pressing it into a what looks like a prescription drug." Why you should care Special Agent Kimbell says Nitazene can be purchased online, using a smartphone. He says, sadly, that's how many kids are getting their hands on it. "We are seeing kids carry that – they can reach a drug dealer that is carrying this type of drug instantly," he said. "Within minutes you can tuck your kids in bed, and they can get on social media, and they can have that stuff delivered to their house." Local perspective Stephanie Roe, who lost her son Tucker at 19 to fentanyl in 2021, has a warning to families and raising awareness through Texas Against Fentanyl. "I watched this come into his life and be introduced as an adolescent, and he couldn't beat it. Ultimately, he used again after his treatment and that resulted in his death," said Roe," Nitazene are incredibly lethal. They have been found to be 20 times stronger than Fentanyl. Roe says it's important for families to talk to their kids and learn more about drug addiction, adding there is a real stigma that needs to be talked about. "The drug demographic is unlike anything we have seen before and these are highly addictive chemicals," Roe said," "You don't think it will happen to our child if you asked me if I would be someone who would lose a child" I would say no way, but the reality is there is no demographic here, its impacting so many people because there is a lack of education and awareness." The Source FOX 26 reporter Leslie DelasBour spoke with Special Agent William Kimbell of the Houston Drug Enforcement Agency and Stephanie Roe, who lost her son to a fentanyl overdose.
News.com.au
06-05-2025
- Health
- News.com.au
US zombie drug creeping into Australia, AFP warns
Super-strength opioids that have turned major US cities into zombie zones are creeping into the country through fake medicines posted in the mail. The Australian Federal Police have issued an urgent warning after a series of nitazene detections in counterfeit pharmaceuticals that appear almost identical to oxycodone pills - pain relief medication available via prescription. The batches have been detected in recent months in NSW, Queensland, Victoria and the Australian Capital Territory. The deadly nitazenes are also being distributed as powders, nasal sprays and vape liquids. Since January 2024 Australian Border Force officers have stopped eight Nitazene imports at Australian borders, most smuggled through international mail from countries including Canada, the United Kingdom and Hong Kong. There is no evidence to indicate nitazenes are being manufactured in Australia. Health authorities and police warn nitazines have serious and unpredictable health effects, including users losing consciousness, experiencing slow or erratic pulse rate, stopping breathing, and having their skin turn bluish-purple. AFP Acting Assistant Commissioner Paula Hudson told there was no safe dosage when it came to nitazenes, and warned people should only consume pharmaceuticals prescribed and dispensed by registered health practitioners and pharmacists. 'We cannot understate the dangers which surround any use of this illicit and highly potent drug. If you choose to take it, you are gambling with your life,' Assistant Commissioner Hudson said. 'Those who consume counterfeit pharmaceuticals have no idea what they are putting in their body and the potential health impacts they could face. 'Synthetic opioids are considered so potent there are also concerns for the safety and welfare of frontline workers, such as nurses, doctors, and law enforcement officers, who could be exposed to the dangerous health impacts when handling these substances or treating people who consume them.' NSW Ambulance Senior Paramedic Specialist Associate Director Paramedicine and Clinical Practice Marty Nichols said nitazenes are appearing more often than ever before, in illicit drugs like ketamine, cocaine and heroin but also in heavy pain medicines. Patients who overdose can present similar to people who have overdosed on heroin, this presentation can include losing consciousness and breathing slowing or ceasing. A reversal agent is available that will counter act synthetic opioids such as nitazene (naloxone). This medication can be obtained and carried by individuals, as well as by health care practitioners such as paramedics. These reversal agents are often effective however if patients have taken unknown substances, the reversal may only have partial effectiveness. Because nitazenes are found in other substances, once the synthetic opioids are reversed the other drugs present in their system may have a greater effect. This can result in paramedics being exposed to aggressive behaviour. NSW Health encourages people to consider how they can reduce their exposure to harm. 'People should think twice about taking any substance where they are not sure what is contained in it. With medication that is not obtained from a pharmacy or health care practitioner, it is near impossible to know what is present,' Mr Nichols said. The AFP is so concerned about the rise in nitazenes it has issued a warning to criminal syndicates seeking to profit from the illegal and highly dangerous drug. 'The AFP is committed to protecting the community and will identify and prosecute you to the full extent of the law,' Assistant Commissioner Hudson said. 'The AFP will continue to work alongside our partners at the ABF, as well as our international law enforcement partners, to combat nitazenes in Australia.'
BBC News
23-04-2025
- BBC News
Drugs pouring into Parc Prison, Bridgend, by drone, inspector says
One of the UK's largest prisons is failing to tackle an "alarming" amount of drugs that have led to a "spate" of deaths, a damning report has said. An unannounced inspection of HMP Parc in Bridgend in January found drugs were widely available, with deliveries to cell windows via drones. Seventeen inmates are known to have died at Parc in 2024, more than any other UK prison. The prison said "significant improvements" were being made. Drugs were found on 900 occasions in 2024, and G4S said it had invested significant resources to tackle drugs in the prison including patrol dogs and detection had previously been judged as one of the most successful prisons, and HM chief inspector of prisons, Charlie Taylor, called the latest inspection "enormously disappointing". He said drugs were "pouring into the prison" and 30% of inmates surveyed said they had developed a drug problem since arriving at the prison. "We know drugs is a huge issue at Parc, we know drones can fly in to specific cell windows and drop off packages very quickly," he said. "Parc isn't unique we see this in jails in England, but it has a destabilising effect on the prison. "The report highlighted how installation of new windows that would restrict trafficking via drones had only started recently and facilities for enhanced gate security were still not in place. "It's often very worrying types of drugs that are finding their ways in and synthetic opioid, Nitazene, might have been behind some of the tragic deaths at the prison," Mr Taylor 70% of inmates on the main A and B units of the prison said it was easy to get illicit drugs. Eight of the deaths at the prison occurred between February and May 2024, which one staff member said was a "very traumatic time for everyone". The inspection report said the prison had "weathered two years of turbulence" and described the root of problems were linked to a new management contract at the prison with security firm G4S and the departure of the former standing and "well respected" director, Janet Wallsgrove, departed in August 2023 after 17 years and replaced by interim director, who was in the post for less than a report described new interim director and management "unable to grip the problems it faced."Parc Prison held 1,700 inmates at the time of inspection, with an average of 225 new arrivals each month. Mr Taylor said it showed prisons were "fragile places" and "when things start to go wrong... they start to unravel quickly", which had been reflected at Parc. The inspectorate's survey of inmates found 54% of inmates saying they felt unsafe at some point during their time in prison, while almost a quarter said they currently felt unsafe. A total of 44% said they had been bullied by staff and 41% by other prisoners. The report said G4S "failed to maintain the high standards for which Parc was renowned".Mr Taylor described G4S as failing to deliver on the terms of its contract after bidding successfully for the 10-year contract to operate the prison in said you get "lawlessness" when a prison is destabilised by drugs, with drugs debts leading to violence and potentially self harm. The report also described the adjudication system as being in "disarray", which would send a message of "if you behave badly here there isn't going to be a consequence", leading to prisoners feeling unsafe. The report also found a failure to allocate prisoners to work, training or education meant many were stuck in their cells for up to 21 hours a day. The report found:A high number of violent incidents High levels of recorded self-harm, and not enough being done to address the causes of thisUnder-resourced mental health and substance misuse services Gaps in public protection arrangements with checks of new arrivals delayed, inadequate arrangements for offence-related monitoringNot enough was being done to support prisoners to reduce their risk or progress in their sentenceFood served at mealtimes was not always adequate, and the prison shop did not sell sufficient healthy items, including fresh fruit and vegetables Inspectors found two examples of notable positive practice during this inspection, they included how the prison worked with Bath University to provide "innovative drug detection technology in efforts to tackle the ingress of illicit substances". It also highlighted Parc Tank as an excellent initiative for those who were due for release and interested in starting their own businesses and were awarded prizes to invest into their ideas on release if they successfully pitched to a report also said a new and experienced director, who started in June 2024, had implemented a well-communicated plan to tackle the basic failings at the prison and prevent further described Will Styles' self-assessment report as honest and was consistent with their findings at the inspection, and a two-year improvement plan was now being developed. G4S said additional resourcing to further enhance security processes was being made available and reducing violence was a priority. HMP Parc said the first six months of 2024 were "extremely difficult" and its thoughts remained with the families of the inmates who died. "Since then, considerable work has been carried out to make significant improvements at the prison."We are encouraged that HMIP recognises that we are making solid progress and noted positive developments in tackling violence, self-harm rates and use of force."It said its "comprehensive improvement plan" included all of the inspector's recommendations.
Yahoo
21-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Pill-testing scrapped as deadly opioid emerges
A state government has been slammed for abandoning permanent pill-testing clinics after extremely potent synthetic opioids were found in Australian wastewater for the first time. Queensland has decided not to renew contracts for fixed pill testing sites at Brisbane's Bowen Hills and Burleigh Heads on the Gold Coast, with doors set to close on April 4. Australian Medical Association Queensland president Dr Nick Yim said he was disappointed the state government had discontinued the service, and feared it would lead to higher rates of harm. "It is disappointing the Crisafulli government, who was elected on a promise that they would listen to the experts, has once again dismissed the evidence supported by doctors," he said in a statement to AAP. Dr Yim was concerned the sites were closing after a deadly synthetic opioid 40 times more powerful than fentanyl was detected for the first time in wastewater testing across Australia over the New Year period. Two highly potent and addictive variants of nitazene - a psychoactive synthetic substance - were detected at five separate sites in Australia and the United States. Protonitazene is one of the variants and is three times stronger than fentanyl, a drug that has driven an overdose crisis in the US. The other is etonitazepyne which is 40 times more powerful than fentanyl. Nitazene has led to fatal overdoses globally often due to being mixed with other illegal drugs like MDMA or ketamine. Considering the Australian wastewater findings, Dr Yim said now was the best time for Queensland to have permanent pill-testing clinics. "Without regulated testing, already vulnerable community members remain exposed to these hidden dangers," he said. He said health authorities could lose visibility of what dangerous substances, like synthetic opioids, are circulating. The Queensland Mental Health Commission has been tasked with developing an overdose monitoring system but without an early warning system like pill-testing, Dr Yim said it would do little to protect people. Health Minister Tim Nicholls stood by the decision to rip up the clinic contracts, citing the Liberal National Party's stance against drugs. "We have made it abundantly clear that there is no good way to acquire drugs in the shadows, under the counter and we don't believe that pill testing is going to resolve those issues," he told reporters on Friday. Meanwhile, the state government made a pharmacist prescription program permanent after a six-month trial. Mr Nicholls said he received reports of 92 per cent satisfaction with the program that allows pharmacists to prescribe a range of common medications for contraception, nausea, acne and allergies. Pharmacy prescription models have been rolled out in NSW and Victoria. The decision was welcomed by the Pharmacy Guild of Australia which said it turned pharmacies into urgent care clinics to provide access across the state. But Dr Yim said the trial had not been evaluated and he was concerned the government would ignore advice if the review came back negative. "This is what they have done by refusing to follow the evidence about our world-leading drug diversion, pill testing and alcohol harm reduction programs," he said.
