Nitazenes found in 5 overdose deaths in Philly – here’s what they are and why they’re so deadly

The Philadelphia Medical Examiner’s Office found that nitazenes, a synthetic opioid up to 40 times more powerful than fentanyl, were connected to at least five overdose deaths in Philadelphia in the past two years.

The nitazene deaths are just a small part of a much bigger problem. A record 1,413 people died from overdoses on illicit drugs in the city in 2022, the latest year for which complete data is available. The vast majority involved other forms of opioids, including heroin, fentanyl and xylazine, also known as “tranq.”

The Conversation interviewed Dr. Christopher…