Nitazenes are a group of highly potent synthetic opioids that are increasingly being detected in the UK drug supply. Originally developed in the 1950s as potential painkillers, they were never approved for medical use due to their extreme strength and risk of overdose.
Recent data from the UK Health Security Agency and the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities show an increasing number of deaths involving potent synthetic opioids, including nitazenes, across the UK.
Some nitazenes are believed to be many times stronger than heroin, meaning even a very small amount can slow or stop breathing.
How are nitazenes entering the UK drug supply?
Nitazenes are entering the UK through illicit global supply chains, including online markets and organised distribution networks.
According to the European Union Drugs Agency, synthetic opioids are becoming more common because they are:
- Cheaper to produce than plant-based drugs like heroin
- Easier to transport in small quantities
- Highly potent, increasing profitability
In the UK, nitazenes have been found in heroin and opioid-type substances, counterfeit prescription medications (e.g. fake diazepam and oxycodone), and unknown powders and pills sold online or on the street.
Can nitazenes be found in cocaine?
There is emerging evidence and growing concern that nitazenes are not limited to opioid drugs. UK drug alerts and European monitoring reports warn that nitazenes may be present in other substances, including cocaine. People who use cocaine typically have no opioid tolerance, meaning even a trace amount of a nitazene could lead to a rapid and unexpected overdose.
Why are nitazenes so dangerous?
The key risk is a combination of extreme potency and unpredictability. According to UK public health guidance:
- There is a very small margin between a dose and a fatal overdose
- People often do not know they are taking nitazenes
- Effects can occur very quickly, reducing time to respond
What can people do to reduce risk?
While no illicit drug use is without risk, harm reduction advice from UK health services includes:
- Carrying naloxone (an opioid overdose reversal medication)
- Avoiding using drugs alone
- Starting with a very small amount
- Calling emergency services immediately if someone becomes unwell
Being honest about what has been taken can help emergency responders act quickly and save lives.
