NCA Warns: Drug-Related Deaths Surge Amid Rising Synthetic Opioid Threat

The emergence of nitazenes, a new class of highly potent synthetic opioids, presents a significant threat to public health in the UK, where they have been increasingly mixed with heroin, leading to a rise in overdose deaths. Official reports indicate over 400 deaths linked to nitazenes from June 2023 to January 2025, amidst a record high of drug-related fatalities in England and Wales. The National Crime Agency warns that the potency of nitazenes may be roughly equivalent to that of fentanyl, making them particularly dangerous. In particular, incidents such as the September 2021 overdose of three men in Abingdon-on-Thames highlight the risks, as two of them died after unknowingly consuming heroin laced with isotonitazene. As synthetic opioids become more accessible, experts emphasize the urgent need for awareness and preventive measures. The situation calls for increased public health efforts to address the dangers posed by these drugs, which are often undetectable by users.