Nitazenes
Nitazenes
Drug dealers in the United States continue to adulterate fentanyl with various synthetic opioids, such as nitazenes. Nitazenes are synthetic opioids that can match or surpass the potency of fentanyl. First developed in the 1950s for pharmaceutical research, they were never approved for use in the United States or any other country. Nitazenes are increasingly being identified in combination with fentanyl, heroin, and cocaine.
Scheduling Actions
Many nitazenes are listed under Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) of the United States, and three – isotonitazene, metonitazene, and protonitazene – have also been placed under international control.
On August 15, 2025, based on the imminent hazard to public safety, DEA published a temporary, emergency scheduling order to place two nitazenes, also referred to as benzimidazole-opioids, in schedule I under the CSA. Any person who handles these substances faces administrative, civil, and criminal sanctions.
Federal Register Notice: Temporary Placement of N-pyrrolidino metonitazene and N-pyrrolidino protonitazene in Schedule I (August 15, 2025)
On June 26, 2025, DEA issued a notice of intent to publish a temporary order to schedule seven other benzimidazole-opioid substances in schedule I of the CSA. When finalized, the temporary scheduling order will impose regulatory controls and administrative, civil, and criminal sanctions on individuals who handle (manufacture, distribute, reverse distribute, import, export, engage in research, conduct instructional activities or chemical analysis, or possess) or propose to handle these seven specified substances.
Federal Register Notice: Temporary Placement of Seven Benzimidazole-Opioids in Schedule I (June 26, 2025)
Resources
DEA 2025 National Drug Threat Assessment (PDF)
Emerging Threat Report (2024) (PDF)
Washington, D.C. 2022 Nitazenes Emergence (2022)
