A synthetic opioid called Nitazene, thousands of times stronger than morphine, has appeared on Tennessee streets, prompting doctors to warn the public.
Originally developed in the 1950s but never approved for human use due to its potency, Nitazenes are now causing fatalities. While fentanyl is 50 times stronger than morphine, Nitazenes far exceed that strength.
Their precursors come from China and are processed in illegal labs, often mixed with other drugs, increasing the risk of fatal overdoses.
Nitazenes are difficult to detect without specialized equipment, and reversing an overdose typically requires two or three doses of naloxone instead of one. The main concern is how quickly treatment can be administered and how many Narcan doses are needed.
