Deadlier than fentanyl: Law enforcement monitoring opioid Nitazine

FRESNO COUNTY, Calif. (KFSN) -- A cause deadlier than fentanyl is making its mode done the state.

Law enforcement hasn't recovered the potent opioid successful Central California yet, but they're preparing for erstwhile they do.

In the opioid crisis, we often talk astir the combat against fentanyl, but a deadlier cause has entered the mix.

Nitazine, oregon ISO, is an opioid developed successful the 1950s astir the aforesaid clip arsenic fentanyl, but it was deemed excessively unsafe for aesculapian use.

More than 50 years later, Narcotics Specialist Bob Pennal says the look is being utilized by amerciable cause producers and making its mode astir the states.

"The astir fashionable is isotonydasine, metatonitaine, fundamentally it's a synthetic opiate, precisely similar fentanyl," said Bob Pennal, retired, CA DOJ Bureau of Narcotic Enforcement. "It's conscionable much powerful."

The cause is much resistant to the opioid overdose reversal drug, naloxone.

"So if you tin imagine, erstwhile you had a fentanyl overdose, you would instrumentality the reversal cause Naloxone, and you'd person to instrumentality a mates of those," said Pennal.

"Well, this is truthful almighty you whitethorn person to instrumentality 4 dosages of naloxone."

Although the deadly opioid hasn't been seized present successful the Central Valley, yet, section instrumentality enforcement wants to beryllium definite they're prepared erstwhile responding to overdoses.

The Fresno County Sheriff's Office said they're already utilizing aggregate doses of naloxone to prevention radical from fentanyl overdoses, but with a stronger opioid connected the mode they're looking astatine carrying higher doses of the lifesaving drug.

"Right present we person a 4 mg nasal spray that we usage connected people, this merchandise Kloxxado is 8mg truthful doubly arsenic overmuch successful 1 canister," said Tony Botti with Fresno County Sheriff's Office.

"So if you're carrying astir 16 alternatively of 8, past if you travel crossed idiosyncratic who's successful truly atrocious shape, obviously, your chances of redeeming them spell up significantly."

Because Nitazine is truthful powerful, Botti says the model wherever naloxone tin prevention someone's beingness is smaller.

For quality updates, travel Kate Nemarich connected Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.