Florida warns of new drug much more powerful than fentanyl

TAMPA – A brand new drug 20-100 occasions stronger than fentanyl is now making its approach into widespread road medicine throughout the USA.

Isotonitazene, known as ISO, is creating issues for spring breakers in Florida and even resulting in second-hand overdoses. 

Florida Lawyer Normal Ashley Moody issued a warning on ISO earlier this month, as regulation enforcement businesses warned the drug may very well be driving the current enhance in overdose deaths.

“For years, we’ve been warning concerning the risks of fentanyl and the way only one tablet laced with this artificial opioid can kill. Now, there’s a new, deadlier drug being present in Florida. Isotonitazene … is so robust that it will possibly kill simply by coming in touch with somebody’s pores and skin or being unintentionally inhaled. ISO has already been linked to overdose deaths in Florida, so please, by no means take any illicit drug and know that utilizing only one time may price you your life,” Moody stated.

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ISO is linked to overdose deaths throughout the nation, together with within the Midwest. Mark Geary buried his son unexpectedly in Could 2021, after his son ingested a hydrocodone unknowingly laced with ISO.

“He was a son, father, grandpa, uncle. He was simply so glad, and he simply beloved his children. He beloved his household. It is going to be a yr in Could. With out household, I might in all probability be extra devastated,” Geary stated.

Jeff Geary’s explanation for dying was initially reported as a fentanyl overdose, however later assessments discovered ISO contributed to his dying. 

“I by no means heard of ISO, and she or he defined it’s a extra highly effective drug than fentanyl. I consider that that is going to be the brand new fentanyl, like fentanyl was to heroin … the place they thought it was heroin killing individuals, and it ended up being fentanyl. Now I consider plenty of fentanyl deaths, in the event that they take a second have a look at it, it’s going to be ISO,” Geary stated.

ISO is now rising overdose deaths throughout the nation, in line with the Pasco County Sheriff’s Workplace.

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“We’re seeing overdose numbers going up. My prediction is that when the health workers’ report comes again, we will see that ISO is inflicting that proportion to go greater for overdose fatalities,” Sheriff Chris Nocco stated.

The Pasco County Sheriff’s Workplace discovered the drug would not all the time reply to Narcan, a drugs that reverses the results of fentanyl and different opioids. Like fentanyl, the drug can be sparking extra unintentional overdoses in households — and even regulation enforcement, second-hand.

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“We had an occasion the opposite day the place a mom and her 14-year-old daughter overdosed. We’re scared for our regulation enforcement officers, our firefighters, our canines, you recognize, one time they’re on the market attempting to avoid wasting any person’s life. You recognize, even simply, you recognize, attempting to resuscitate any person again, you recognize, may cause them to overdose additionally,” Nocco stated. “You’ve got taken a poison, and also you magnified it 20 to 100 occasions. So that you’re, you recognize, mainly going to be destroying individuals the primary time they take it.” 

In line with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), ISO is manufactured in China, shipped to Mexico after which smuggled into the USA. 

ISO is manufactured in China, shipped to Mexico after which smuggled into the U.S., the DEA stories.

Geary is sharing his son’s story in hopes of saving one other household from heartbreak.

“I am placing my son’s story about his dying on the market to probably assist only one individual save somebody’s life or save a household from going via what our household goes via,” he stated.