A New Opioid's Silent Infiltration in Europe
A new class of synthetic opioids, named Nitazenes, has recently entered the market—and they’ve made their way to France. As of July 9, the National Agency for the Safety of Medicines and Health Products (ANSM) reports that France has officially banned the production, sale, and use of Nitazenes due to the dangers they pose.
Nitazenes are a class of opioid from the benzimidazole family, and are reportedly extremely potent, notably having been found in cocaine, heroin, and other amphetamines.
Many Americans are aware of the ever-growing opioid epidemic that took the United States by storm in the 1990s; beginning with widespread abuse of prescription drugs, such as oxycontin, that led to the production of synthetic versions for recreational use; the US is still struggling to combat the rapidity of which overdoses are occurring.
In France, 20-24-year-olds make up 5% of MDMA, ecstasy, cocaine, and heroin users. Because Nitazene opioids are most present in these drugs and assorted amphetamines, this puts young people, like students, in France at risk of encountering it in their recreational drugs. So, what should AUP students know about Nitazenes, and how can we both prevent and intercept overdoses?
The Rise of Nitazenes in Europe and France
ANSM warns that at least 6 new kinds of Nitazenes were introduced into Europe in 2023. The EU has been using an early warning system, operated by the European Monitoring Center for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA), to alert them about new psychoactive substances that pose a threat. A handful of Nitazene opioids appeared on its radar in 2023, which led to the eventual banning in several countries in 2024. Aside from France, countries in the UK and Eastern Europe, such as Ireland, Latvia and Estonia, have also reported the presence of Nitazene in various overdose toxicology reports.
While it was initially developed in the ‘50s and ‘60s as a pain reliever, Nitazene opioids were never actually approved for use or manufacturing in the Americas or Europe. Though France has yet to gather enough data to report the demographics most affected by Nitazene opioids, the US has already seen a spike in related overdoses since 2019. They can induce death very suddenly even with only small amounts of the drug in the person’s system.
Why are Nitazenes so Dangerous?
With effects that are allegedly up to 500 times stronger than morphine, this opioid can come in liquid, powder, or pill form, and is being used to enhance abused prescription drugs as well as adulterated drugs like heroin. Like with fentanyl, most users are likely ingesting Nitazene via other drugs, making it a silent and unsuspecting killer.
Although currently less present in France, the outlawing of this opioid serves as a warning to the French population about its abilities. The European Union Drugs Agency (EUDA) additionally stresses that Nitazene opioids may be too novel to be detected in routine drug testing, such as urine tests and post-mortem toxicology tests.
What Students Need to Know
So the question stands: how can students avoid buying or overdosing on substances altered by Nitazene opioids?
The first and most practical option is to test any and all pills and powders with testing strips, which function similarly to the fentanyl testing strips that are now widely available in the US. While they are not yet especially accessible in France, Nitazene testing strips are available for order online from countries in the UK.
This upcoming winter break, those returning to the US can also order them and bring them back to France in the new year. Testing kits are easy to use and are the most effective method of preventing overdoses and Nitazene poisoning.
Students using recreational drugs should always have Naloxone, sold commonly by the brand Narcan. Naloxone is the main compound in the nasal spray that reverses the respiratory effects of an overdose; it is available on Amazon. It can be used quickly and easily in cases of emergency.
Drug use is especially prevalent among college students and young adults in their 20s, and while the purchasing and use of drugs isn’t encouraged, abstinence education has not been proven to prevent overdoses either. In reality, preaching drug abstinence is naive; a lack of education about what the drugs you use are and how to use them safely is arguably more dangerous.
With Nitazene opioids growing in presence in Europe, and especially France, taking the time to test drugs and be educated and prepared for emergencies can save your life and the lives of others.
