The DEA warns Houston about the potent synthetic opioid Nitazene.
HOUSTON — The DEA is warning of a new and dangerous drug making its way into Houston.
“The newest thing that we’re seeing, that that is really scaring us, and it’s really hard for us to combat right now is Nitazene,” William Kimble, acting special agent in charge of the Houston Division of the DEA, said.
Special Agent Kimble told KHOU 11 News that Nitazene is a synthetic opioid more than 25 times more potent than fentanyl.
“They take fentanyl or Nitazenes and they press them into tablets that look like prescription pills. That is being done locally,” Kimble explained.
In the last year, the agency has seen what they are calling a dramatic increase in Nitazene issues. From last November to February of this year, the DEA saw a 57% increase in Overdoses related to Nitazene.
“In the last year, we know of 15 people who passed away from Nitazene use, the age range for those people are 17 to 59,” Kimble explained.
Melissa Navarette-Tucker from the Houston Recovery Center said for parents, communication is the best line of defense.
“As drugs and their purity begin to change, It’s really, really important that we just get education and awareness. We need to talk about it,” Navarrette-Tuker explained.
Navarette-Tuker told KHOU 11 News the Houston Recovery Center provides free Narcan, which is a medication used to reverse the effects of opioids in overdose situations. The center also provides classes for parents.