From fentanyls to nitazenes. A study on the threat of nitazenes in Spain
Authors:
David Pere Martínez-Oró, Nicolás Elías Piñeiro López y Sara Sáez Sánchez.
Key Words:
Nitazenes, opioids, public health emergency, new trends, illicit drugs, fentanyl, heroin, drug addiction services.
Summary:
The research ‘From fentanyls to nitazenes. A study on the threat of nitazenes in Spain’ deals with the phenomenon of the use of nitazenes in Spain.
In 2024, fentanyls, an opioid that emerged in the last decade as a substitute for heroin in countries around the world, are in decline due to difficulties in obtaining precursors for their production, while nitazenes, another family of synthetic opioids, are gaining presence in international illicit drug markets. This is not to say that fentanyls are disappearing, but it does appear that there is a possibility of a change in the cycle that could affect the opioid market, with serious consequences for the opioid-using population.
If, to date, there are no significant data on the presence of nitazenes in the illicit drug market in any Spanish territory, and its presence in Europe is limited with some exceptions, it is necessary to analyse the scene of opioid users in the territory to verify the presence of this substance and to start working on the institutional and preventive responses that would be necessary in the event of being in a scenario where the presence of this family of opioids would occur.
