Key findings

• Nitazenes are a class of highly potent synthetic opioids. There have been increasing detections of nitazenes, and growing reports of harms from their use both in Australia and globally
• A total of 1751 listings selling nitazenes were identified from 15 cryptomarkets in the period from February 2023 to January 2024.
• There was an increase in the percentage and number of nitazene listings on the cryptomarkets over the 12-month period.
• Approximately 3 in 4 nitazene listings (78%) were offered as available for delivery to Australia.
• Isotonitazene, protonitazene and metonitazene were the most frequently identified nitazenes in the 12-month period.