The recent World Drug Report by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) raises a concerning issue: the spread of nitazenes, a group of synthetic opioids even more potent than fentanyl, across Europe and North America.

What are Nitazenes?

• Developed in the 1950s as potential painkillers, nitazenes were deemed too risky due to their high potency and addictiveness.
• Unlike approved medications, nitazenes have never been used for medical or therapeutic purposes.

The Dangers of Nitazenes

• Extreme Potency: Nitazenes are significantly stronger than heroin, posing a major overdose threat.
• Increased Overdose Risk: Mixing nitazenes with other drugs or alcohol significantly increases the risk of overdose and death.
• Routes of Administration: Nitazenes can be injected, inhaled, or swallowed, further complicating overdose prevention efforts.

The Spread of Nitazenes

• The UNODC report identified nitazenes in countries like the UK, US, Canada, Slovenia, Estonia, Latvia, and Belgium.
• This spread coincides with a decline in poppy cultivation in Afghanistan, potentially leading heroin users to seek alternative opioids.

Global Drug Use Trends

• The UNODC report highlights a 20% increase in global drug use over the past decade, reaching 292 million users in 2022.
• Cannabis remains the most commonly used drug (228 million users), followed by opioids (60 million), amphetamines (30 million), cocaine (23 million), and ecstasy (20 million).

The Urgent Need for Action

• The emergence of nitazenes necessitates immediate action from health agencies around the world.
• The UK has already classified nitazenes as Class A drugs, imposing strict penalties for their production and distribution.
• Experts, however, criticise the UK government’s slow response in addressing nitazenes on the streets.

The Fentanyl Epidemic: A Cautionary Tale

• Fentanyl, another synthetic opioid, serves as a stark reminder of the devastation caused by powerful opioids.
• With a potency 50 times greater than heroin, fentanyl contributed to a staggering 100,000 overdose deaths in the US alone in 2022 (according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention).
• While the UNODC report suggests a potential plateau in fentanyl overdose deaths, the illicit manufacture of fentanyl analogs continues to pose a serious threat.x

The spread of nitazenes adds another layer of complexity to the global drug crisis. Immediate and coordinated efforts are crucial to prevent these super-strength opioids from causing widespread harm. Public awareness campaigns, improved access to harm reduction services, and stricter regulations are all essential steps to mitigate the dangers posed by nitazenes.

Source

BBC