Health and law enforcement officials are seeing a rise in cocaine supplies contaminated with a dangerous class of opioids called nitazenes.
What are nitazenes
Nitazenes are a group of synthetic opioids. First developed in the 1950s, they were quickly abandoned because they were found to be far too dangerous for patient use. The drug can be ten times more potent than fentanyl (remember, a quantity of fentanyl equal to five grains of salt can kill) and 500 times more potent than heroin.
The nitazene danger
This class of opioids is dangerous for several reasons. They are fast-acting, and they stay longer in the body. When mixed with other illicit drugs, they can become even more toxic. Nitazene can cause a person to stop breathing within minutes of consuming it.
Nitazenes are on the street in the U.S.
Increasingly, health authorities are reporting drugs sold as cocaine and other illicit drugs that contain nitazenes – adding a new and frightening dimension to the opioid crisis.
Aware Recovery Care is here to help
If you or a loved one is struggling with an addiction to opioids, other drugs, and/or alcohol and need help in Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Virginia, Georgia, Florida, Ohio, Kentucky, or Indiana, the recovery teams at Aware Recovery Care are here to help. And we come to you, regardless of where you live. Our unique in-home treatment model of care gives clients a significantly better chance of recovery than traditional inpatient rehab care. We are now offering Virtual Detox and Medication Assisted Treatment in New Hampshire, Connecticut, Virginia, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, and Ohio as well. Please get in touch with one of our Recovery Specialists to learn more.
