Nitazene synthetic opioids spark overdose surge in US and UK

Health officials in the United States are reporting a rapid increase in nitazenes, a class of synthetic opioids that can be more potent than fentanyl. These substances, originally developed in the 1950s but never approved for medical use, are appearing in illicit drug supplies, often mixed with heroin or counterfeit pills, and are not reliably detected by standard drug screens. The DEA has placed several nitazenes on Schedule I and warns that multiple doses of naloxone may be required to reverse overdoses.

In the United Kingdom, nitazenes have been linked to roughly 750‑800 deaths since 2023. The National Crime Agency attributes the rise to Chinese laboratories that manufacture the chemicals and to Chinese organised crime groups that distribute them. British officials have raised the issue with Chinese President Xi Jinping, securing a bilateral security agreement to curb production and smuggling. The problem was a top agenda item at a Five Eyes intelligence meeting, which pledged intensified joint efforts to disrupt the trade. The emerging crisis highlights challenges for public‑health surveillance, law‑enforcement coordination, and international drug‑control policy.