Key Takeaways:
- Nitazene is a synthetic opioid drug that is more potent than fentanyl.
- It is extremely dangerous because most people don’t realize how potent it is, leading to fatal overdoses.
- The drug is also often mixed with other substances like heroin and MDMA, without the user’s knowledge.
- You can prevent a fatal outcome if you administer Naloxone immediately after an overdose.
- Reach out to Avenues Recovery so we can offer you practical guidance and support.
My child is using nitazene. What should I do?
If you’ve stumbled onto this page, you are probably afraid. You may have caught your child taking Pyro, and now you’re worried about what will happen next. You may be wondering if your child is addicted, or if it’s a one-time occurrence. You may be catastrophizing over the side effects, and hoping nothing will be permanent. No matter what your fears are, try to take a deep breath. Nothing terrible will happen right now.
At Avenues Recovery, we want you to know that your fears are normal. Every responsible, loving parent worries about their child, and hearing that they’re engaging in risky behaviors is alarming. However, we also want you to know that you’re not alone. Millions of parents across the US are dealing with the same struggle. And, most importantly, there is help. You don’t have to struggle alone- we can guide you and your child to a better place.
What is nitazene?
Before this shocking revelation, you probably didn’t know the drug existed. That’s because it’s relatively new, so it’s not as widely known as other drugs. Nitazene, otherwise known as Pyro, is a synthetic opioid street drug. It was first developed in the 1950s as a potential painkiller, but never approved for medical use because of how dangerously potent it is. Decades later, pyro/nitazene has resurfaced in the illegal drug market, and according to the DEA, it’s a serious public mental health threat across the country.
In powder form, pyro is sold in yellow, brown, or off-white. They are also sometimes sold in tablet form, or mixed into other drugs like heroin, cannabinoids, and ketamine. As a parent, knowing what the drug is, how it looks, and what it’s used for, is your first line of defense. When you educate yourself on anything risky your teenager may be doing, it gives you an edge in allowing you to be an effective, guiding parent for your struggling child.
Why is the Pyros drug so dangerous?
As a loving parent, you want to know what your role is when you discover that your child is using drugs. Should you mix in and demand they cooperate with you, or stay away, hoping your child will stop using drugs on their own? The answer is very personal to every parent. But the first question you need to ask yourself is what the side effects are, and whether or not your child is physically safe. If they’re using drugs that are more dangerous, you need to intervene immediately so you can possibly save their lives.
Pyro is a fully synthetic drug, which means that it was created in a lab, rather than derived from a plant, like heroin. It is also produced in unregulated settings, because it isn’t FDA-approved so doesn’t follow standards for safety like legally-produced medication. Practically, it means that every dose of the drug is unpredictable. Your child has no idea how potent each dose will be, because every tablet is different.
Pyro acts like any prescription medication- it binds to the opioid receptors in the brain, producing a sense of euphoria and pain relief- but it’s much more powerful than conventional pain relief medication. Also, many people have consumed a fatal dose because they had no idea how potent the drug is, and which dosage can be fatal. More disturbingly, people have overdosed because they took a different drug and had no idea that there was pyro mixed into it.
Pyro vs Fentanyl: One of the drugs stronger than Fentanyl:
You’ve probably already heard about fentanyl, and worried about your child having access to it. It has been at the center of the opioid crisis for years, and for good reason- fentanyl is terrifyingly 100 times more potent than morphine. If that’s not bad enough, Pyro, as a nitazene opioid, is believed to be even more potent than fentanyl.
Fentanyl is known to be lethal at a dosage of just 2 milligrams- an amount that is barely visible to the naked eye. Nitazenes, like Pyro, may be deadly at even smaller amounts. Unlike fentanyl, which has some presence in clinical settings, nitazenes are purely illicit, making them harder to detect and treat in a case of overdose. All things considered, Pyro is a very dangerous drug and can have devastating effects when it’s played around with.
How n-pyrrolidino protonitazene is sold:
One of the most heartbreaking aspects of this drug is how it reaches people. While your child may be fully aware of the fact that they’re using Pyro, chances are that they may be consuming it without knowing. As a parent, it’s important that you’re aware of the fact that even the less-dangerous drug that your child is using could potentially cause an overdose, especially if Pyro has been mixed in.
Pyro is often pressed into counterfeit pills that look exactly like legitimate prescriptions (like Xanax or oxycodone), mixed into drugs like heroin, cocaine, or MDMA, sold under other, more familiar names, or sold online through dealers who have no idea what they’re selling. This a very chilling reality of today’s drug market.
Your child could be purchasing a drug that looks and sounds familiar, without knowing that it is, in fact, Pyro. Or they can take a drug that is actually heroin or MDMA, but has some Pyro mixed into it. What’s especially dangerous is that if your child is showing signs of an overdose, it will be difficult to treat if the bottle of pills they are holding appears to be heroin, but the Pyro is hiding in the mixture without anyone’s knowledge.
Pyros drug overdose:
We know how hard it is to read about potential overdose when your child is currently using the drug. It’s scary to imagine that your child may be at risk of an overdose. However, as a parent, it’s vital that you keep your eyes open so you can keep your child safe. Acting quickly could possibly save your child’s life.
Nitazene overdose is particularly dangerous because the symptoms come on extremely quickly – sometimes within minutes of use- and bystanders may not realize what’s happening before it’s too late. Additionally, as mentioned, the drug can be invisible because it has no smell or color, and it is often added to other drugs without the user’s knowledge.
Signs of Pyro overdose include slow, shallow, or stopped breathing, blue or grayish lips, fingertips, or skin, very small pupils, gurgling or choking sounds, and loss of consciousness. If you see any of these signs in your child (or anyone else who may be using Pyro), call 911 immediately and let them know that you suspect the patient has been using nitazene.
How to prevent a Pyro overdose:
Before confronting your child or taking measures to remove Pyro from their possession, you can purchase Naloxone (Narcan). Naloxone is a life-saving medication that reverses opioid overdose, so the moment you realize your child may have overdosed, you can administer a dose of Naloxone, and you’ll possibly be saving their life.
However, be aware that one dose of Naloxone may not be enough. Because Pyro is so potent, multiple doses are often required to reverse the overdose. Practically, always call 911 first, even if you already have the Naloxone on hand. Then, administer Naloxone (whether it’s the nasal spray or the injection), and if there’s no response within 2-3 minutes, give a second dose. Perform rescue breathing if you know how to, and don’t leave your child until emergency services arrive.
Guiding your child to recovery:
We understand how overwhelmed and scared you probably feel right now. You might also be feeling guilt, anger, or any other emotion that comes along with hearing such disturbing information about your child’s behavior. At Avenues Recovery, we’ve spoken to countless distraught parents and offered them guidance and hope.
We want you to know that all is not lost- your child can recover from drug addiction and lead a healthy, productive, safe life. We’ve seen thousands of people who entered our rehabs feeling lost and afraid, but left with practical tools, support, and a clear game plan for the future. We invite you to reach out at any time to discuss your fears, and so we can offer you practical guidance and support as you navigate this difficult chapter in your life.