SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (KY3) -A new warning from Springfield and Greene County about a powerful synthetic opioid. It’s five to 10 times stronger than Fentanyl, it’s showing up in counterfeit pills, unregulated marijuana products, and vape liquids, often without users knowing it.
Local agencies in Springfield and Greene County are partnering to spread the word about nitazenes after a Department of Public Safety-led study. 37 schools across Missouri volunteered for a wastewater monitoring program. According to their report, nitazenes have been detected in 26 of 37 participating schools since January of this year.
“Nitazenes are really, really powerful,” said Anna Kremer with the Springfield-Greene County Health Department. “They are 5 to 10 times more potent than fentanyl, which is already a very powerful opioid.”
The drug can come in many shapes and forms.
“Nitazenes can be in many different forms of drugs,” said Kremer. “It can be in powders, pills, it can be in vape liquids. So it really can be in many different illicit or unregulated substances. And because it is so powerful, it increases their chance of overdosing.”
“We’re just encouraging the public to have Naloxone, know how to use it, call 911, and if it’s safe, administer Naloxone,” said Christopher Roush, Battalion Chief of EMS and Special Operations for the Springfield Fire Department.
Local agencies are urging the public to learn the signs of an overdose and how to administer Naloxone in the case of an overdose.
“You might see it called Revive, you may have heard of Narcan, that’s the brand name most commonly. associated with Naloxone,” said Roush. “Someone that’s not breathing appropriately, so very slow or snoring. If their lips or fingernails are becoming blue, or if they have pinpoint pupils, they’re generally unconscious.”
“If you are overdosing, you can’t administer Naloxone to yourself. And we also know from studies that one in three overdoses happens in the presence of another person,” said Kremer. “It’s not necessarily if you personally do drugs, you might encounter someone who is overdosing. And so being prepared to administer that Naloxone can be a life-saving measure.”
Christopher Rousch with Springfield Fire shared the steps on how to administer Naloxone, “insert it into the nasal passageway fully and depress the plunger, which essentially is the activator mechanism on the bottle. And it should send the dose and give it a few minutes to work.”
There are also online resources available that offer free Naloxone. You can find that information here.
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