All articles tagged with #synthetic opioids
King’s College London researchers warn that nitazenes may account for up to a third more UK drug deaths than official counts (with 333 fatalities linked to nitazenes in 2024) because postmortem toxicology often misses these ultra-potent opioids, a discrepancy that could affect public health policy and harm-reduction efforts.
The British National Crime Agency reports that despite efforts to combat fentanyl, the drug market is experiencing a surge in cocaine, imported cannabis, and a new synthetic opioid, highlighting the ongoing challenges and failures of drug prohibition policies.
A report by the CDC shows a significant increase in drug overdose deaths involving smoking and a decrease in deaths involving injection from January 2020 to December 2022, with smoking becoming the most common route of drug use. This shift is observed across all U.S. regions and is particularly pronounced in deaths involving illegally manufactured fentanyls (IMFs). The findings highlight the need to strengthen public health and harm reduction services to address overdose risk associated with diverse routes of drug use, including smoking, in order to reduce drug overdose deaths.
Experts warn that the synthetic opioids xylazine and nitazene, more deadly than fentanyl, are becoming a major drug crisis in Illinois, with xylazine playing a role in 531 deaths and nitazene in 141 deaths in Cook County since 2019. The drugs, often mixed with other substances like fentanyl, pose a significant threat, and the White House has released a National Response Plan to address the increasing number of overdoses.
A deadly new drug called "kush" is causing havoc in West African countries, with a dozen deaths and thousands hospitalized every week. The drug, a mixture of cannabis, fentanyl, tramadol, and formaldehyde, is rumored to contain human bones, though experts are skeptical. The drug's affordability and availability, combined with social factors like high unemployment and poverty, have contributed to its popularity. The lack of quality control and harm reduction services increases the risk of fatal overdose. While the drug is mainly found in West Africa, it is unlikely to make its way to the U.S. due to economic factors.
Overdose deaths in the United States have continued to rise, with a 2.3 percent increase in the 12-month period from July 2022 to July 2023. Some states experienced a surge in overdoses by more than 40 percent, driven by the spread of synthetic opioids like fentanyl. The true toll is likely higher due to delays in reporting data, putting the US on track to record the deadliest year ever. A deadly drug called 'tranq' mixed with fentanyl has been described as the deadliest threat the country has ever faced. The survey found that two-thirds of adults reported either they or a family member suffer from addiction, and nearly 10 percent of people over 18 years old said they had lost a relative or friend to an overdose.
Super-strength street drugs known as nitazenes, smuggled from China, have been linked to at least 54 deaths in the UK in the last six months. These man-made drugs, often mixed with other substances like cocaine and anxiety medication, can be up to 300 times stronger than heroin and fentanyl. Nitazenes, nicknamed the "Frankenstein" drug, are causing a surge in drug-related deaths, prompting calls for them to be classified as a Class A drug. The West Midlands has seen the highest number of deaths, followed by the East of England and Scotland. The true total could be higher as more cases await testing.
Fifty-four people in the UK have died in the past six months after taking synthetic opioids called nitazenes, believed to be manufactured in China. These opioids are up to 300 times stronger than heroin and up to 10 times stronger than fentanyl. The National Crime Agency suspects that the drugs are being shipped to Britain through the postal system. Fentanyl, another synthetic opioid from China, has been a major contributor to the opioid crisis in the US. The UK government plans to classify 15 new synthetic opioids as Class A drugs. The presence of nitazenes in heroin sold on the streets has led to a spike in fatal overdoses, with 45 deaths in England and nine in Scotland. Experts warn that nitazenes could become a global drug problem.
Synthetic opioids called nitazenes, stronger than heroin and fentanyl, have been linked to at least 54 deaths in the UK in the past six months. Experts believe these drugs are being manufactured in labs in China and then imported into the UK. The true number of deaths could be higher, as 40 more cases are awaiting further testing. The UK government plans to classify 15 new synthetic opioids as Class A drugs. Users have reported the shockingly strong effects of nitazenes, with some dealers selling heroin laced with nitazenes as "fentanyl." Families affected by these deaths are calling for government intervention, warning of a potential epidemic.
Nitazenes, a class of synthetic opioids, are emerging as a deadly threat in overdose cases, with some drugs in this class being 100 times more potent than morphine. Recent studies have shown that nitazene overdoses often require multiple doses of naloxone, the overdose-reversal drug, indicating their increased lethality compared to fentanyl. These drugs, originally developed in the 1950s but never brought to market, have been discovered by clandestine labs and are now being used illicitly. Nitazenes are illegal in the UK, but their presence as adulterants in other drugs is a growing concern. Public health agencies are urging education on nitazenes and the use of naloxone to combat overdose.
Fentanyl, a synthetic opioid, has become the new face of the opioid overdose epidemic, with more than 150 people dying every day in the US due to synthetic opioids like fentanyl. The drug is up to 50 times stronger than heroin and 100 times stronger than morphine, and just two milligrams can be fatal. Fentanyl has been found laced in various substances, including marijuana, cocaine, and prescription medications, making it even more addictive and increasing the likelihood of repeat customers. The drug's ability to slow down breathing and oxygen intake is what makes it so deadly. If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, the David Lawrence Center offers help and provides life-saving Narcan free of cost.
A new study warns that a group of synthetic opioids called nitazenes, which are emerging in illicit drugs in the United States, may be more potent than fentanyl and require multiple doses of naloxone to reverse an overdose. Nitazenes are associated with an increased rate of cardiac arrest when overdosed on, and patients who overdose on metonitazene, a type of nitazene, experience higher rates of cardiac arrest and death. The study highlights the need for clinicians to be aware of these opioids and the potential need for repeat naloxone dosing. Nitazenes are among the fastest-growing types of opioids detected in people who overdose, and their prevalence is increasing in certain regions.
A new overdose tracker created by The San Francisco Chronicle reveals that in 2022, 263 people died of a drug overdose in Vermont, with the highest rate of overdose deaths occurring in Chittenden County. The majority of these deaths involved synthetic opioids, such as fentanyl. In Northern New York, 6,412 deaths were attributed to drug overdoses, with Clinton County recording 23 drug overdose deaths, primarily involving synthetic opioids. The tracker, which will be updated monthly, provides a detailed look at drug-related fatalities in different communities.
Scientists at Scripps Research have developed an antibody therapy that effectively reverses the life-threatening effects of the potent opioid carfentanil in preclinical tests. The antibody, in single-chain fragment variable (scFv) format, binds tightly to carfentanil and other fentanyl variants, and when administered shortly after an overdose, it reverses the potentially deadly respiratory depression caused by carfentanil. This antibody therapy could provide a longer-lasting and more powerful treatment for synthetic opioid overdoses compared to existing options. The researchers have licensed the rights to further develop and market the antibody to a pharmaceutical company, with clinical trials planned to begin this month.
Researchers at Scripps Research have developed an antibody that shows promise in reversing the lethal effects of carfentanil overdose, a potent variant of the synthetic opioid fentanyl. The antibody, administered through a simple intramuscular injection, binds powerfully to carfentanil and other fentanyl variants, effectively counteracting carfentanil-induced respiratory depression in rodents. This discovery could lead to a more robust and long-lasting treatment for synthetic opioid overdoses compared to current methods. FDA-approved clinical trials for the antibody, CSX-1004, are set to begin this month to assess its effectiveness in preventing fentanyl overdoses.