Attorney General Ashley Moody and Sheriff Chris Nocco are warning Floridians of a new, deadly synthetic opioid found in Florida called Isotonitazene—commonly referred to as ISO.
According to reports, ISO is approximately 20 to 100 times stronger than fentanyl—an already incredibly dangerous opioid. Similar to fentanyl, this new synthetic opioid is being mixed with other drugs and appearing in the illicit drug market—possibly in powder or pill form.
Often, users have no idea that a lethal synthetic opioid is mixed into a drug until it is too late. Attorney General Moody is sounding the alarm and asking people to never take an illicit drug because just one pill can kill.
Attorney General Ashley Moody said, “For years, we have been warning about the dangers of fentanyl and how just one pill laced with this synthetic opioid can kill. Now, there is a new, deadlier drug being found in Florida. Isotonitazene, also known as ISO, is so strong that it can kill just by coming in contact with someone’s skin or being accidentally inhaled. ISO has already been linked to overdose deaths in Florida, so please, never take any illicit drug and know that using just one time could cost you your life.”
Pasco Sheriff’s Office wants citizens to be aware of Metonitazene/Etonitazene a new synthetic opioid commonly known as ISO, 20x times more potent than Fentanyl.
Pasco County Sheriff Chris Nocco said, “ISO is a dangerous substance that we have, unfortunately, seen in Pasco County. As law enforcement continues to have to address the healthcare crisis of substance abuse, our goal remains to save lives and protect our community, which is why we have highlighted and brought awareness to the impact this dangerous substance has in our community.”
ISO is a derivative of etonitazene, a synthetic opioid first developed by pharmaceutical companies in the 1950s to treat pain. It is rarely used in the medical community because there are safer options. ISO is highly potent and comes with dangerous side effects.
ISO is even more concerning to health practitioners because it is not easily detected in routine toxicology tests.
Some side effects of ISO can be:
- Respiratory failure
- Nausea
- Vomiting
This drug is dangerous and presenting in Pasco Sheriff’s Office overdose investigations.
ISO can be absorbed by physical contact through skin, ingestion, or inhalation. Overdose signs from ISO contact occur within minutes.
Testing by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement Crime Lab revealed that ISO has been found in multiple Florida counties since 2020, and law enforcement linked this deadly-synthetic opioid to two deaths in Pasco County in 2021. PCSO released tips about how to recognize the signs of an overdose resulting from ISO, also known as Metonitazene and Etonitazene:
If you or someone you know is experiencing overdose symptoms call 911 immediately.
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