WASHINGTON – A new bipartisan bill aims to crack down on nitazenes, a synthetic drug up to 43 times stronger than fentanyl that has already been linked to several deaths in the United States.
The legislation, introduced by Rep. Eugene Vindman (D-Va.-07) and Rep. Michael Baumgartner (R-Wash.-05), would permanently classify the entire family of nitazenes as Schedule I substances under the Controlled Substances Act.
The bill’s sponsors say the move would close loopholes that traffickers exploit by slightly changing chemical formulas to avoid enforcement.
“Nitazenes are the next fentanyl — cheap to produce, easy to traffic, and devastatingly lethal. Too many families already have an empty seat at the table because of these synthetic drugs. I’m proud to work across the aisle to confront this crisis, protect our communities, and give law enforcement the tools to save lives,” said Vindman in a press release.
Emily’s Hope previously reported on several deaths linked to nitazenes and how researchers warn overdoses involving these drugs often require more naloxone than fentanyl-related overdoses.
First synthesized in the 1950s but never approved for medical use, nitazenes are increasingly being found in the U.S. drug supply, often mixed — without users’ knowledge — into counterfeit pills, heroin, or other substances.
“We need to act now,” Baumgartner said. “This bill takes a smart, proactive approach by cracking down on these drugs before they spread further, while still allowing for legitimate medical research.”
Supporters say the bill schedules the drug class based on chemical structure and activity, making it harder for traffickers to evade enforcement with minor modifications. The measure would also list known compounds such as etonitazene, isotonitazene and metonitazene, while preserving exemptions for legitimate medical and scientific research.
The DEA highlighted nitazenes in its 2025 National Drug Threat Assessment, warning that their extreme potency, low cost and reduced responsiveness to standard naloxone doses make them especially dangerous.
