In Cincinnati, Ohio – Deadly new drugs have been popping up all throughout the Tri-State area, killing people.
Researchers have compared Nitazene, also known as Benzimidazole-Opioids, to fentanyl and found it to be just as dangerous, if not worse. The medication has no recognized medicinal function.
Around the 1950s, researchers developed netizens as a morphine substitute; however, the immense danger of overdose led them to swiftly abandon the effort. Before 2019, when crackdowns on fentanyl were ramped up, the drug stayed out of the public spotlight. However, in 2019, the opioid began to surface. While nitazenes are frequently used as a substitute for fentanyl, there is evidence that they may have 40 times the potency.
Image – Bloomberg
It is most likely being imported. According to Greg Kesterman, the health commissioner for Hamilton County, “What we see is that local drug suppliers will cut this with their narcotics that they are currently selling.”
Constant overdose risk, nausea, difficulty breathing, fever, and excessive sweating are just a few of the many side effects of netizens.
Many users may not realize they are using the lethal substance nitazenes because, similar to fentanyl, it is frequently concealed in other narcotics to make them more potent.
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The majority of individuals are only utilizing fentanyl test strips, which do not detect Nitazenes, even though drug enforcement authorities and harm reduction groups recommend using test strips before any narcotic usage. You can also get Nitazene test strips, but people usually buy them in bulk.
Research has identified five distinct Nitazene species.
Two of the varieties are even more powerful than fentanyl, of which we are already somewhat aware. However, there are a handful that are vastly more powerful—by a thousandfold. “So even a small amount can lead to an overdose and even death from an overdose,” Kesterman elaborated.
Evidence of Nitazene in confiscated drug paraphernalia increased by 860 percent, according to Hamilton County Public Health. The majority of fatalities have occurred from injectable Nitazene, however, Commissioner Greg Kesterman cautions that there are different versions of the drug.
If we draw a lot of attention to a particular drug adulterant in the media and policy discussions, it may become less accessible. Nurse Tasha Turner-Bicknell of the University of California, Berkeley, explained that this is leading people to seek out alternate solutions.
Given that some people will continue to consume drugs despite repeated warnings, Turner-Bicknell argued that this should not be the singular message.
“Educating people about doing the test dose, using a small amount, and having Narcan available and never using alone,” added Turner-Bicknell.
“Press pills today like Adderall that you might buy illegally,” Kesterman pointed out. “They can look like they are manufactured by a wholesaler but oftentimes they are made in basement labs, and they can contain these harmful substances.”
In 2021, Nitazene was initially discovered in Hamilton County and has since aggressively increased its impact.
Because it has made its way into the streets, it is now difficult to detect. According to Aaron Laine of the DeCoach Recovery Centre, some drug users would intentionally overdose by testing their dosage first.
It stays hidden on panel tests. The fentanyl test strips that are used in our office or in the field will detect fentanyl, but not Nitazenes, according to Laine.
Online pharmacies often have Nitazene test strips in stock, although they are now illegal in Ohio and tough to come by. There will be more drug war battles like this one.
Juniper Calloway is a dedicated journalist with 3 years of experience in covering hard-hitting stories. Known for her commitment to delivering timely and accurate updates, she currently works with MikeandJon Podcast, where she focuses on reporting critical topics such as crime, local news, and national developments across the United States. Her ability to break down complex issues and keep audiences informed has established her as a trusted voice in journalism.
