What are nitazenes?
Nitazenes are synthetic opioids from the chemical group of benzimidazoles. The name is derived from isotonitazene, one of the best-known representatives - sometimes the substance is simply referred to as ISO. Nitazenes act as selective μ-opioid receptor agonists, similar to morphine or fentanyl, but with significantly higher potency.
They were originally developed in the 1950s by the Swiss company Ciba AG as powerful painkillers. Due to their specifically life-threatening effect profile and the associated side effects, these substances were not approved for use in either human or veterinary medicine.
Why are nitazenes problematic?
Today, better-researched and safer opioids such as morphine, fentanyl or oxycodone are used instead of nitazenes. Nitazenes have a very high dependency potential and are not approved for use in medical practice. Nevertheless, they are increasingly appearing on the recreational drug market - often in mixtures or as counterfeit medicines.
Some well-known representatives of this group of substances are
Metonitazene, isotonitazene, protonitazene, etonitazene, N-piperidinyl etonitazene, butonitazene, clonitazene, flunitazene, etc.
How do nitrazones work?
Nitazenes have a wide range of effects:
- analgesic
- calming and cushioning
- anxiety-relieving
- Antitussive
- Psychotropic and euphoric
Some users also report slightly stimulating and mood-enhancing effects - albeit less pronounced than with substances such as oxycodone.
The effect is caused by binding to μ-opioid receptors, which leads to a strong influence on the central nervous system.
How dangerous are nitazenes?
The various nitazenes differ greatly in their potency. Depending on the substance, they can be 200 to 1000 times more potent than morphine.
These extreme differences make the dosage unpredictable and the effect of consumption unpredictable - especially in the absence of tolerance or mixed consumption. Nitazenes already have an effect in the microgram range, which makes dosing even more difficult. Even the smallest quantities can lead to life-threatening overdoses. Incorrect dosing can have serious health consequences, including respiratory depression and even respiratory arrest.
Forms of appearance of nitrocenes
Nitazene can occur in various forms - often unrecognized and with high risk. Here are the most common manifestations:
1. powder form
- Often as a white or yellowish powder.
- Can be pure or diluted with other substances.
- Sometimes sold as heroin, fentanyl or other opioids.
2. tablets or pills
- Partly circulating as counterfeit pharmaceutical products (e.g. as "oxycodone" or "hydromorphone").
- Often contain unknown amounts of nitrazines, which makes dosing extremely risky.
3. liquid solution
- Intended for intravenous or nasal use.
- Rare, but possible - especially from illegal laboratories.
- Particularly dangerous because the concentration is difficult to estimate.
4. in combination with other drugs
In recent years, nitazenes have increasingly been consumed unknowingly, as they have been used as extenders or substitutes in other substances. Particularly affected are:
- Counterfeit oxycodone tablets (Europe & Switzerland)
Nitazenes such as etonitazene, metonitazene or protonitazene were sold as counterfeit oxycodone - sometimes even packaged in original blister packs. Users assumed that they were consuming a known drug, but received a highly potent substance with completely unpredictable effects.
These false declarations were clearly proven by drug checking programs and forensic laboratories in several European countries, including Switzerland.
- Heroin
Nitazenes such as isotonitazene or protonitazene have been added to heroin in several cases - often as a substitute for fentanyl or to enhance the effect. These admixtures have been confirmed by drug checking and forensic analyses (e.g. EMCDDA, NFLIS, UNODC). - Cocaine and crack
There are documented cases in which nitazene has been detected in crack or cocaine samples. This is particularly dangerous for users without opioid tolerance, as even the smallest amounts can lead to respiratory depression. - Methamphetamine
Nitazene has also been identified in methamphetamine samples in individual scientific reports - usually in the context of counterfeit or diluted substances. These findings are rare, but documented.
Safer use with Nitazenes
Nitazenes are extremely potent synthetic opioids. Even the smallest amounts can lead to severe or fatal overdoses. If you consume, please observe the following instructions:
1. test substance
- Carry out a rapid test for synthetic opioids before use.
- Have your substance analyzed in a drug check to find out the exact ingredients.
- Inform the specialist center in the event of a positive rapid test and submit your sample for follow-up analysis so that the result can be confirmed and the substance can be differentiated.
2. caution with medication
- Only trust medication that you have received yourself from a healthcare professional (doctor, pharmacist, therapist).
- There are deceptively genuine counterfeits in circulation - even tablets in original blister packs can contain nitazene.
3. dosage
- Dose significantly lower after breaks. Your previous dose may now be dangerously high.
- Do not add more, even if the effect is delayed - the risk of an overdose increases.
- Do not trust the dosage recommendations of others. Their tolerance may be significantly higher than yours.
4. consumer environment
- If possible, do not consume alone.
- Let your friends know what you consume and when.
- Stay in company for at least 10-15 minutes after use. It has been observed that some synthetic opioids lead to a delayed overdose.
5. emergency preparedness
- If you use opioids, carry naloxone (anti-dot) with you if possible.
- Find out how it is used and make sure that you or those accompanying you know how to use it correctly in an emergency.
- In an emergency, always call an ambulance with an emergency doctor. The emergency number for the ambulance service in Switzerland is 144.
News:
- Recently, counterfeit oxycodone tablets have been in circulation. Here are 2 examples: Etonitazene sold as oxycodone / Metonitazene sold as oxycodone
- Visitors to the Drug Checking reported that they had bought Nitazene on the Clearweb. It must therefore be assumed that highly potent substances can also be purchased on the Clearweb.
- At the moment, experience suggests that the main risk is posed by counterfeit pills - and not so much by cut heroin.
