Nitazenes in Missouri: The Synthetic Opioid Threat Growing Fast

As Missouri debates making Psilocybin legal in certain circumstances, a new synthetic drug is finding its way into the Show-Me State, and elected officials are working to create legislation against it.

Missouri’s Evolving Drug Battle

Nitazenes are a class of synthetic opioid that has entered the chat. They are stronger than fentanyl, and cheaper to produce. The elevated level of potency has many concerned about accidental overdoses. Nitazenes are pushing their way into communities and neighborhoods in Missouri. The Drug Enforcement Agency placed Nitazenes on the National Drug Assessment list earlier this year (2025).

Lawmakers Push Back Against the Threat

The bipartisan legislation that Missouri Senator Eric Schmitt is a part of called "DETECT Nitazenes Act" designates the Nitazenes as a Schedule I narcotic, provides law enforcement with authority to locate and eliminate the drug, and places sanctions on the Chinese entities that are making and trafficking Nitazenes into the region. Sen. Schmitt says that Nitazenes, depending upon the batch, can be anywhere from 5 to 40 times more potent than fentanyl, and hundreds of times more potent than other opioids like heroin.

Missouri Senator Eric Schmitt

The street names for this new synthetic drug are:  “Iso”, “Tony”, “Zeens”, “Zeenies”, “Nazzy”, “Nitaz”, and you may hear Nitazenes referred to as “Frankenstein Opioids” in public health warnings and messaging. Be aware of the language being used around these deadly opioids.

Read More: From Cannabis to Psychedelics: Missouri's Next Big Debate

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These synthetic opioids are used with other drugs. Pure versions would be deadly, so the Nitazenes are added to other drugs, making usage of any unregulated opioid potentially lethal. Missouri has seen its drug battle evolve over the years from Meth to Fentanyl to these new synthetics. Show-Me awareness.