The spread of nitazenes into the recreational drug market has governments and experts seriously concerned and not just in the UK. Now, a new ‘anti-drugs’ campaign has warned young people of the serious risks associated with taking ketamine, synthetic opioids or deliberately contaminated THC vapes. It comes amidst growing concerns that synthetic opioids – particularly nitazenes – are increasingly appearing in counterfeit medicines sold illegally online. These are typically being purchased by younger, more ‘drug-naïve’ people, the government has warned.

What are nitazenes?
Technically known as 2-benzyl benzimidazole opioids, nitazenes are a class of incredibly potent synthetic opioids that were discovered in the 1950s but never approved or marketed as medicines because of safety concerns. They bind to the same receptors as morphine, heroin and fentanyl but with such potency that even tiny amounts can be fatal, with a high risk of accidental overdose....