Overview

• Nitazenes, a group of synthetic opioids, are more potent than heroin and are being linked to a growing number of deaths in Germany.
• These substances are often mixed into counterfeit medications and heroin, increasing the risk of unintentional overdoses.
• Germany's Neue-psychoaktive-Stoffe-Gesetz (NpSG) aims to regulate synthetic drugs but struggles to keep pace with new chemical variants.
• Authorities are intensifying public awareness campaigns, such as the BKA's '#gefährlichbunt,' to address the growing threat.
• Experts warn of a potential crisis similar to the fentanyl epidemic in the USA, as synthetic opioids become more prevalent in illicit drug supplies.