Behavioural Effects and Naloxone Effectiveness With New Synthetic Opioids
The variability in nitazene potency and common unintended use underscores the need for widespread education, broad naloxone access and robust drug-checking initiatives. Key challenges include the detection of nitazenes in polydrug contexts and their presence in substances sold as other drugs, including falsified pharmaceuticals. Emerging evidence suggests that naloxone can reverse acute poisonings with benzimidazole opioids. However, no studies have examined the effectiveness of medications for treating opioid use disorder (e.g., methadone, buprenorphine, naltrexone) in people who are physically dependent on nitazenes. Future research should address this important knowledge gap.
Authors
- Gilles Forte
- Suzanne Nielsen (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5341-1055)
- Jason M. White (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6750-1078)
- Dilkushi Poovendran (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9919-2932)
- João Pedro Silva (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5656-0897)
- Alex J. Krotulski (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1775-1882)
- Jermaine D. Jones (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4476-2800)
- Sandra D. Comer
- Deusdedit Muzangizi
Institutions
- University of South Australia (AU)
- Universidade do Porto (PT)
- New York Psychoanalytic Society and Institute (US)
- Eastern Health (AU)
- World Health Organization (CH)
- SA Health (AU)
- Fredric Rieders Family Foundation (US)
- Monash University (AU)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Drug and Alcohol Review
- Published
- 2025-10-15
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1111/dar.70040
- Citations
- 1
- Primary Topic
- Opioid Use Disorder Treatment
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 1.88