Super-potent synthetic opioids called nitazenes are spreading across the U.S. Up to 40 times stronger than fentanyl, nitazenes are often laced into other drugs

https://www.statnews.com/2026/06/18/nitazenes-deadly-synthetic-opioids-rapid-spread-united-states/ By Jonathan Moens — BellingcatJune 18, 2026 STAT is co-publishing this article with open-source investigative outlet Bellingcat.