Vapes laced With nitazenes raise alarm over deadly health risks
Authorities in Australia have sounded the alarm over the discovery of nitazenes — a dangerous group of synthetic opioids — in vape liquids, sparking urgent warnings from health experts about the potentially lethal consequences for unsuspecting users.
Nitazenes, first developed in the 1950s as potential painkillers but never approved for medical use, have been emerging in illicit drug markets globally since the 1990s. In Australia, they have appeared in counterfeit medicines, contaminated street drugs, and now in vape liquids. This development marks the first known police seizure in New South Wales involving vape liquid laced with nitazenes, with the accused now facing serious charges.
Why nitazenes are so dangerous
Although chemically different from natural opioids like morphine and other synthetics such as fentanyl, nitazenes bind to opioid receptors in the brain just as effectively — and in some cases, even more potently. Laboratory studies suggest that isotonitazene, one of the more common variants, may be stronger than fentanyl, a drug already linked to thousands of overdose deaths worldwide.
The most critical danger is respiratory depression — a condition where breathing slows or stops, leading quickly to death without immediate intervention. The signs of opioid overdose include:
- Pinpoint pupils
- Slow or shallow breathing
- Extreme drowsiness or unconsciousness
- Blue or grey skin tone
Nitazenes can also cause rapid tolerance and dependence, meaning users may need increasingly higher doses to achieve the same effect — greatly increasing overdose risk.
Unregulated and unpredictable
A major concern is that many users do not know they are consuming nitazenes at all. These potent opioids are being mixed into substances that should contain weaker opioids, or no opioids at all, such as cocaine, fake benzodiazepines, or now, vape liquids. Inhalation through vaping can produce faster effects than swallowing a pill, making overdoses even more likely and harder to reverse in time.
The unpredictability of dosage in illicit products makes nitazenes especially hazardous. Even microscopic quantities can cause serious harm or death.
The role of naloxone
The opioid antidote naloxone can reverse a nitazene overdose, but health experts warn its effects may wear off before the drug is fully cleared from the body, making repeated doses necessary. In New South Wales, naloxone is available free at some pharmacies, needle and syringe programs, NGOs, and via prescription. Authorities urge anyone around opioid users to keep naloxone on hand and know the signs of overdose.
Expert warning
Macquarie Medical School pharmacologist Professor Mark Connor stresses that nitazenes’ potency, combined with their appearance in unsuspected products, makes them a public health threat. “If you are not expecting an opioid, you are likely not prepared for an opioid overdose,” he warns.
With several fatalities already linked to nitazenes in Australia, experts say public awareness is crucial. Health professionals, including those in dental and oral health settings, are being encouraged to educate patients on overdose symptoms and harm reduction, as nitazenes could cross into products beyond the illicit drug scene.
Stay informed. Stay ahead.
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