Increasing Presence of Nitazines in Aotearoa w/ NZ Drug Foundation Principal Science Advisor Emily Hughes: 8 November, 2023

Drug checking providers have reported seeing an increase in a group of synthetic opioids, nitazines, being sold as other substances, with the High Alert warning this week about a highly potent synthetic opioid being misrepresented as butonitazene. 

News and Editorial Director Jessica Hopkins spoke to NZ Drug Foundation Principal Science Advisor Emily Hughes about this recent development. 

She started off the interview asking Hughes why they are concerned about the growing prevalence of nitazenes in the community, especially if they are being sold as something else.