Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) intends to issue a temporary scheduling order (in the form of a temporary amendment) for two synthetic benzimidazole-opioid substances, N-pyrrolidino metonitazene and N-pyrrolidino protonitazene, including their isomers, esters, ethers, salts, and salts of isomers, esters, and ethers whenever the existence of such isomers, esters, ethers, and salts is possible, in Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act.
The trafficking and identification of benzimidazole-opioid substances in the recreational drug market continue to pose a threat to public safety, according to the agency. Benzimidazole-opioids, also known as nitazenes, have a similar pharmacological profile to fentanyl, morphine, and other mu-opioid receptor agonists. DEA’s notice became effective on September 17, 2024. Additional info is found here.