Houston, TX — A new synthetic opioid up to 43 times stronger than fentanyl and 250 times stronger than heroin is raising alarms among drug experts and law enforcement. Known as nitazenes, the drug has already killed two young men in Texas and is linked to hundreds of deaths overseas.
What Are Nitazenes?
According to People, nitazenes are synthetic opioids first developed in the 1950s but never approved for medical use. They are now being produced illegally, primarily in China, and like fentanyl, are often mixed into heroin, counterfeit pills, and powders without the buyer’s knowledge.
“They buy potent nitazenes cheaply and mix them with bulking agents such as caffeine and paracetamol to strengthen the product being sold and make significant profits,” said Charles Yates, U.K. National Crime Agency Deputy Director, in an interview with The Wall Street Journal.
The drug is so potent that even trace amounts can be fatal. In the U.K., nitazenes have been linked to at least 400 deaths.
Two Texas Families Speak Out After Tragedy
In January, Lucci Reyes-McCallister, 22, of the Houston area, died after taking what he thought was Xanax, according to his mother, Grey McCallister. The pill was later found to be laced with N-pyrrolidino protonitazene, a form of nitazene 25 times stronger than fentanyl.
Just three months later, in April, Lucci’s friend, Hunter Clement, 21, died after taking what he believed to be Percocet. His mother, Ruthi Clement, said she found him face-down in bed, skin purple. She administered two doses of Narcan, but they were ineffective.
“Sometimes I get mad because I couldn’t save my own son,” Ruthi Clement told The New York Post. “I do want to save other people, even if it’s just one person in honor of him.”
Narcan Less Effective Against Nitazenes
Narcan, the brand name for naloxone, is designed to reverse opioid overdoses. However, nitazenes are so powerful that Narcan may not work as effectively as it does against heroin or fentanyl overdoses.
Key facts about nitazenes include:
- Most potent strain: N-pyrrolidino etonitazenes, up to 43x stronger than fentanyl
- Commonly found in: Counterfeit pills, heroin, powders, and even vaping devices
- Circulation in U.S.: 17 different strains identified by the DEA
Rising Global and U.S. Threat
The influx of ultra-potent synthetic opioids is being fueled by the ease of smuggling smaller, more concentrated drugs, according to the WSJ. In August, police in Sydney, Australia, arrested a man for selling vapes “supercharged” with nitazenes, The Guardian reported.
The DEA’s 2025 National Drug Threat Assessment warns that nitazenes are often undetected in routine drug testing, making them even more dangerous. Research from 2022 found 93 U.S. deaths attributable to nitazene strains, but experts believe the real number is far higher.
Mothers Hope to Save Others
For Grey McCallister, her son’s death was the first time she had ever heard of nitazenes. Now, both she and Ruthi Clement are determined to raise awareness.
“This was the first time I’d ever heard of [nitazene],” Grey said.
“I do want to save other people… even if it’s just one person,” Ruthi added.
Officials urge the public to avoid any pills not obtained from a licensed pharmacy and to call 911 immediately if an overdose is suspected.
What are your thoughts on this dangerous new threat? Let us know in the comments.
