Opioids
Protonitazene
Street names: Protonitazene, Propynyl nitazene
Overdose? Act now. Call emergency services — say "unresponsive, not breathing". Give naloxone for opioid-like signs. Hotlines
⚡What it does
- ~3× fentanyl potency by weight — deep, long sedation
⚠Key risks
- Increasing US forensic identifications 2022–2025
- Mass-overdose batches; naloxone needs multiple doses
- Urine screens miss it
- Found in counterfeit oxycodone and 'heroin' alike
✚Overdose signs
- Immediate respiratory arrest
- Pinpoint pupils, cyanosis
- Re-overdose risk as naloxone fades
Category comparison — Opioids
| Substance | Class | Top risks | Street price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Protonitazene | Schedule I | Increasing US forensic identifications 2022–2025; Mass-overdose batches; naloxone needs multiple doses | Contaminant/adulterant pricing |
| Heroin | Schedule I | Extremely addictive — physical dependence in weeks; Overdose: breathing slows or stops | ~$10–$40 per bag |
| Fentanyl | Schedule II | Respiratory depression; Addiction in days | ~$20–$40 per counterfeit pill |
| Fentanyl HCl (powder) | Schedule II / analogue prosecutions | Lab-purity powder is far stronger than street mixes; Weighing errors are fatal | ~$60–$120/gram wholesale equivalent |
| Acetylfentanyl | Schedule I | ~5–15× weaker than fentanyl but still deadly at gram-level mistakes; Frequent cause of cluster overdoses | ~$25–$60/g where found |
| Furanylfentanyl (Fu-F) | Schedule I | Linked to hundreds of fatal overdoses 2016–2018; Potency similar to fentanyl | ~$20–$50/g |
Street prices are regional estimates. Potency and cuts vary constantly.
?Frequently asked questions
What does Protonitazene look like?
White/yellow powder or counterfeit pills
What are the signs of a Protonitazene overdose?
Immediate respiratory arrest; Pinpoint pupils, cyanosis; Re-overdose risk as naloxone fades Call emergency services immediately and give naloxone if available — it reverses opioid overdoses.
How addictive is it?
Increasing US forensic identifications 2022–2025 Dependence can develop with regular use.