San Francisco is currently grappling with the emergence of a new drug known as ISO, which is reportedly 20 times more powerful than fentanyl. This has raised significant concerns among local authorities.
The drug, formally called Isotonitazene, was first linked to a fatal overdose in April, according to officials from the city’s health department. They made it known that in a case reported on April 23, ISO had been mixed with another synthetic opioid, cyclofin. ISO’s low cost and extreme potency pose a considerable risk.
Authorities have warned that just one pill could contain a lethal dose. What compounds the danger is that these synthetic opioids don’t test positive for fentanyl, making them especially hazardous since users might not even know what they’re taking.
Alarming footage shared online showcases users in San Francisco’s Tenderloin district struggling under the drug’s influence. In one video, a man filmed by Christopher Rufo can be seen among others, hunched over or lying on the sidewalk, resembling lifeless bodies.
Sources in the drug trade have mentioned to Rufo that ISO is becoming increasingly prevalent. He reflected on how, over the last decade, there seems to be a continuous push to make opioids stronger—starting from heroin to fentanyl, and now to ISO. His statement underscores the dramatic impact this has had on cities in California.
Isotonitazene, also known as nitadine, has various consumption methods. It can be smoked, injected, or swallowed, further complicating the battle against its spread.
Last month, officials from the DEA issued fresh warnings concerning ISO and other synthetic drugs that could be combined with fentanyl.
The advisory highlighted that these emerging synthetic substances can be significantly stronger than fentanyl, heightening the likelihood of fatal overdoses. There’s also a concern that naloxone, an overdose reversal medication, may not work on those who overdose on ISO.
Since it first surfaced on the U.S. illegal drug market in 2019, ISO has not been approved for medical or industrial use. The DEA has recorded over 900 instances of isotonitazene since its introduction, with the highest number of reports in 2021.
In Los Angeles, although ISO hasn’t yet posed a considerable threat, authorities pointed out the rising trend of “bathtub pharmacists” mixing fentanyl with various other drugs, which is raising alarms.
Los Angeles health officials attribute more than half of the city’s drug-related and alcohol fatalities to fentanyl. Law enforcement has been intensifying efforts to disperse crowds engaging in drug sales and consumption in key areas like MacArthur Park.
Jackie Berlin, an anti-drug activist, expressed significant concern about the rising presence of ISO. She argued that due to its extreme potency and lack of detection by fentanyl test kits, it’s particularly dangerous for unsuspecting individuals. “It’s very scary because addicts don’t realize it,” she commented, calling for more robust actions from the police to address these issues.
