CINCINNATI — Nitazenes, which are synthetic opioids, have shown an increased presence in Hamilton County's drug supply recently, health officials warned.
Nitazenes increase the risk of respiratory depression and death due to their strength, according to Hamilton County Public Health. To show its strength, the public health department compared nitazenes to morphine:
- Isotonitzene: 75-times stronger
- Fentanyl: 100-times stronger
- Metonitazene: 100-times stronger
- Protonitzene: 200-times stronger
- Etonitzazene: 1,500-times stronger
- N-pyrrolidino etonitzene: 1,500-times stronger
Hamilton County Public Health said isotonitzene and metonitzene have been found in drug seizures as early as 2021 in the county, but from 2022 to 2023, the number of seizures containing protonitazene had an annual increase of 867%. As of May 31, 2024, the presence N-pyrrolidino etonitzene increased in the first two quarters of the year compared to all of 2023.
"The growing emergence of nitazene analogues in the local drug supply underscores the importance of law enforcement, first responders, medical professionals, forensic and laboratory personnel, public health and safety officials, medical examiners, coroners and the general public to be informed of the dangers, detection methods and appropriate response protocols to mitigate the impact on public health," Hamilton County Public Health wrote in a release.
To reduce the impact of nitazenes, health officials gave these tips:
- Start with a low dose
- Avoid using alone and keep a sober person in close proximity
- Have more than one dose of naloxone
- If unsure if there's been an overdose, call 911 for an ambulance and don't leave the person alone
- Fentanyl test strips don't detect nitazenes
For more details, click here.