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New Synthetic Opioid Nitazene Discovered, 100x Stronger than Fentanyl

9/17/2025

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Summary

Story summary

Authorities discovered a new synthetic opioid, nitazene, during a narcotics raid in Long Island, New York.
Nitazene is reportedly 100 times stronger than fentanyl, raising alarm among drug enforcement officials.
The drug is linked to overdose deaths and may be smuggled from Mexico or produced locally.
Nitazenes have appeared in over a dozen states, complicating the opioid crisis.
Experts caution that insufficient tracking may lead to underreporting of nitazenes and related fatalities.

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Story summary

Authorities discovered a new synthetic opioid, nitazene, during a narcotics raid in Long Island, New York.
Nitazene is reportedly 100 times stronger than fentanyl, raising alarm among drug enforcement officials.
The drug is linked to overdose deaths and may be smuggled from Mexico or produced locally.
Nitazenes have appeared in over a dozen states, complicating the opioid crisis.
Experts caution that insufficient tracking may lead to underreporting of nitazenes and related fatalities.