A substance reported to be 50 times more potent than fentanyl, identified as N-Desethyl Isotonitazene, or "ISO," has been discovered in West Palm Beach, sparking serious public health concerns. As per the findings by local authorities and highlighted in an NBC Miami report, this synthetic opioid has also been found in two other cities, namely Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and Washington, D.C.
Details concerning the drug's potency emerged during a police press conference, with Lieutenant Joseph Herb of the West Palm Beach Police Department expressing urgent warnings about the substance's lethal nature. "We had some of it tested and it came back 50 times more potent than the normal fentanyl," Herb said. He eluded to broader systemic issues contributing to the drug's presence, stating, "I don’t want to pound it into the stand, but when we have open borders and fentanyl just crossing freely, we have a problem." This revelation was initially made public in a news conference and subsequently, as covered by WPTV.
Lieutenant Herb, with a 34-year tenure as a police officer, also highlighted the risk faced by those on the front line. "This is scary, when I stated it was cocaine and marijuana, it's getting to the point now where you have patrolmen searching cars, hopefully not coming across this," Herb told WPTV. Authorities have further indicated that the drug has begun to be pressed into pills masquerading as oxycontin and percocet, making the risk of accidental overdose acute.
Moreover, the drug bust which led to the seizure of ISO also resulted in the arrest of a man, alongside a significant confiscation of $1.6 million in ammunition and drugs. Although his name has not been released, the operation marks a critical interception of ISO before it could potentially claim lives. The standard overdose-reversal drug, Narcan, has been to reportedly fail to counteract the effects of ISO, instigating further challenges for first responders. According to Lieutenant Herb in the NBC Miami interview, "Sometimes first responders are not getting there fast enough to inject the Narcan into the person and we have people dying because of this drug."
As the situation unfolds, public health officials urge individuals to exercise utmost caution and seek immediate help in suspected cases of overdose. The presence of ISO is a grave reminder of the ongoing opioid crisis and the constantly evolving threat posed by synthetic opioids. A Florida Poison Control Center's post on X, in response to the crisis, recommends that residents reach out for assistance at Poison Help (1-800-222-1222).
West Palm Beach police say they confiscated N-Desethyl Isotonitazene, a.k.a. ISO, during a recent drug bust. The powerful opioid can be 50 times more powerful than #fentanyl.#Poison Help 1-800-222-1222.https://t.co/zrxloiZYoh
— FL Poison Control (@FloridaPoison) July 18, 2024
