800-861-9372
Fentanyl has overshadowed much of the opioid crisis in the public eye for the past several decades. But a growing number of new synthetic opioids called nitazenes have recently taken the American illicit drug market by storm. One report has noted that nitazenes have the same potency as fentanyl and in some cases are even …
New Synthetic Opioids Fuel U.S. Drug Crisis
Get Help Now 800-934-1582
Sponsored
Sponsored
Fentanyl has overshadowed much of the opioid crisis in the public eye for the past several decades. But a growing number of new synthetic opioids called nitazenes have recently taken the American illicit drug market by storm. One report has noted that nitazenes have the same potency as fentanyl and in some cases are even higher.
Expanding the War on Fentanyl
President Donald Trump signed the HALT Fentanyl Act in July 2025 to classify fentanyl as a Schedule 1 drug. This strengthens the punishment for those convicted in fentanyl trafficking. But some experts contend that putting more focus and resources towards stopping fentanyl spread could lead to other drugs emerging to fill the void.
Dr. Nabarun Dasgupta of the Gillings School of Global Public Health in North Carolina tracks nitazene use. He states that the focus on fentanyl has encouraged the black market to switch to alternatives that are easier to trade and can hide in the shadows. Dasgupta’s team has detected nitazenes across 15 states with the largest concentration in Tennessee.
Taking a Closer Look
Alex Krotulski of the Center for Forensic Science Research and Education has done similar work. One problem with detecting nitazenes is that the technology required to identify them is not standard in autopsies, meaning nitazene-related deaths are likely underreported. Krotulski also contends that the United States lacks a “uniform way of tracking drugs” so tracking nitazines is difficult.
Sheila Vakharia is a national expert on harm reduction. She agrees there was “no one consistent supply chain across all 50 states.” Vakharia also explains that new drugs typically start within one city and then spread to rural areas that lack tracking measures.
Finding a Path Forward
The current administration has recently requested cuts for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in 2026. On the chopping block is the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control.
Dasgupta warns that cutting programs would further impede the ability to track and detect novel drugs. Nitazene usage is nowhere near the same level as the fentanyl trade, but concerns grow that the opioid epidemic will continue to grow in a new and potentially more lethal direction. Dasgupta says that “an unregulated drug supply is always going to be changing.”
If you or a loved one is impacted by opioids or other narcotics, there’s hope.
Check out local NA meetings on Narcotics.com or call 800-934-1582(Sponsored) .
the Take-Away