"Emergence of Nitazenes: The New Synthetic Opioid Overpowering Fentanyl"
Nitazenes, a class of synthetic opioids developed in the 1950s, are emerging in the illicit drug market and have been linked to a recent overdose death in Colorado. These drugs are known to be extremely potent, with some formulations being up to 10 times as potent as fentanyl. While their presence is still relatively rare, experts expect their prevalence to increase as they remain "under the radar." Naloxone, the medication used to reverse opioid overdoses, is effective against nitazenes, but due to the potential long-acting nature of these drugs, medical treatment is still crucial after revival.