Title: Deadly Chinese-Made Opioid Infiltrating US Substance Market, Alarming Medical Experts
As the opioid crisis intensifies in the United States, doctors are now sounding the alarm over a Chinese-made drug deadlier than fentanyl that is seeping into the country’s drug supply. Nitazenes, a group of lab-made opioids, have been detected in heroin and counterfeit prescription pills, leading to fatal overdoses.
According to research, nitazenes are approximately 1,000 times more potent than morphine, making them even more lethal than fentanyl. In fact, to combat a nitazene overdose, at least two doses of naloxone, an opioid overdose antidote, are required compared to the standard single dose for fentanyl.
Mount Sinai’s doctors in New York are warning clinicians to stay vigilant about the rampant presence of these dangerous opioids in the illegal drug market. They emphasize that being aware of the presence of nitazenes is crucial for providing adequate care to patients.
A study published in JAMA Network Open shed light on the severity of the nitazene crisis. Out of 537 adults admitted to emergency rooms with suspected overdoses, nine individuals were found to have tested positive for nitazenes. Shockingly, 66% of these patients required multiple doses of naloxone, and 11% needed emergency intubation.
Tragically, among the patients who tested positive for nitazenes and fentanyl, one from each group died following their overdose. However, the rest were fortunate enough to survive with prompt medical intervention.
The study also revealed a harrowing finding: patients who received the specific nitazene called Mentonitazene were more likely to experience cardiac arrest compared to those who consumed other substances, including fentanyl.
Nitazenes were created approximately six decades ago as an alternative to morphine. However, due to their high risk for overdose, they were never released into the market.
The Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) in Washington D.C. issued a warning last year about the presence of nitazenes in supplies of heroin and fentanyl. A DEA agent emphasized the urgency of educating communities about the perils of counterfeit prescription pills and other drugs to prevent further deaths.
The infiltration of nitazenes into the US drug market calls for immediate action to protect vulnerable individuals from the deadly consequences of these substances. Medical experts, law enforcement agencies, and communities must work together to raise awareness and prevent further tragedy in the ongoing battle against opioid abuse and addiction.
