An opioid 40 times more powerful than fentanyl arrives in France, the health authorities alert

ANSM), it can come in the opioid 40 times more powerful form of powder, tablets, inhaling liquids or even nasal sprays, often mixed with other substances such as cocaine or heroin, sometimes without the knowledge of consumers. However,

These practices are part of a logic well established by traffickers: fragment the logistics chains. Additionally, However, camouflage molecules in commercial cargoes, take advantage of digital platforms to sell products. Meanwhile, The European Drug Agency (EUDA) notes an increasing use of social networks for distribution, including for the most dangerous opioids. In this context, anonymity, speed and lack of control strengthen the attraction of these new molecules.

Nitazène is no exception to this logic. Its power – up to 40 times that of fentanyl – in fact a substance of choice for traffickers. seeking to make each gram profitable. However. this extreme concentration exposes consumers to an almost inevitable risk of overdose as soon as they ignore the exact composition of the product.

opioid 40 times more powerful

How Nitazène threatens uninformed users – Opioid 40 times more powerful

The dangerousness of Nitazène does not only reside in its composition. but also in its invisibility. Classic screening tests, such as those carried out routine in hospital services, often fail to identify it. Only very advanced spectrometry. chromatography techniques, such as those used in Massy customs laboratories, make it possible to detect the molecule with certainty.

This explains why some users find themselves trapped without knowing it. In Ireland. in 2023, a series of overdoses in the Dublin region revealed the presence of Nitazène in lots that traffickers sold as heroin.

On the side of opioid 40 times more powerful France, Nitazène has already caused two deaths. Furthermore, In 2023. the French Observatory for Drugs and Addictive Trends (OFDT) issued several alerts, notably in Montpellier and Reunion, after the authorities identified the molecule in seized samples. These cases perhaps represent only a tiny part of the phenomenon. because the classic procedures for post-mortem toxicology do not always detect Nitazens.

Responses still too fragmented in Europe

Faced with this rising threat, European health authorities are trying to organize. On July 9. 2024, France officially registered several forms of Nitaznes on the list of narcotics, prohibiting their production, their detention and their sale. But this decision comes when the first victims are already recorded. In parallel, the customs laboratories struggle to follow the cadence. With more than 25. 000 drug samples to be analyzed each year, including thousands linked to new substances, the systematic identification of Nitazène remains a technical challenge.

opioid 40 times more powerful

European coordination also remains insufficient. Eight countries have seized counterfeit drugs containing Nitazène in 2023. according to the Euda, without this information immediately leading to common responses. However, the example of fentanyl has shown that the dispersion of policies can worsen health crises. The European market, which has become particularly reactive to geopolitical instability and new technological opportunities, evolves faster than regulations.

Meanwhile, Nitazène is gradually integrated into polyconsumption. Combined with benzodiazepines or alcohol, it multiplies the risk of acute respiratory depression. Naloxone kits, antidote known to opioids, should be administered at higher doses and sometimes several times to counter its effects. It is still necessary to be available in time. which is not the case in all regions or for all audiences.