Pennsylvania’s Attorney General recently noted more than 5,000 Pennsylvanians died from heroin and opioid overdoses in 2021 and dozens more have died in subsequent years, with fentanyl largely to blame.

But a decades-old synthetic opioid is now making more appearances in overdoses and deaths across the state.

Here's what you need to know about nitazene, and what the Shapiro administration is doing about it.

What is nitazene?

Nitazene is a synthetic opioid that is banned in the United States.

"Nitazenes are a class of synthetic opioids that can be more powerful than fentanyl," read a news release from the Pennsylvania Department of Health, adding that nitazenes were a “contributing factor in 45 deaths in Pennsylvania since 2023."

Swiss researchers first developed nitazene in the 1950 as "an opioid analgesic alternative to morphine," and was never approved for medical use, read a paper published by the Organization of American State's Inter-American Drug Abuse Control Commission.

What does nitazene look like?

Nitazene is available on the black market in many forms.

"Nitazenes are sold as a white powder, crystalline solid, or brown/yellow powder," according to the Alcohol and Drug Foundation. "They have also been found in tablets (fake oxycodone), heroin, ketamine and synthetic cannabinoids.

"Nitazenes can be injected, inhaled, or swallowed."

A nitazene overdose can be fatal and lead to a coma, noted the Alcohol and Drug Foundation. A nitazene overdose can also cause fainting spells.

Gov. Shapiro targeting nitazene

Pennyslvania Secretary of Health Debra Bogen has temporarily scheduled nitazenes as a Class I controlled substance.

"Schedule I drugs, substances, or chemicals are defined as drugs with no currently accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse," read the Drug Enforcement Agency's website. "Some examples of Schedule I drugs are: heroin, lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), marijuana (cannabis), 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (ecstasy), methaqualone, and peyote."

source