The Journal: The Drug You've Never Heard of Wreaking Havoc Across Europe

Episode Release Date: August 12, 2025
Hosts: Ryan Knutson and Jessica Mendoza
Produced by: The Wall Street Journal & Spotify Studios

Introduction: A Silent Crisis Unveiled

In this eye-opening episode of The Journal, hosts Jessica Mendoza and Suna Rasmussen delve into the alarming rise of a synthetic opioid named nitizines, a drug so potent that it surpasses the notorious fentanyl. Unlike fentanyl, nitizines have never been approved for medical use, and their emergence is causing a surge in overdose deaths across Europe.

Understanding Nitizines: A More Potent Threat

Jessica Mendoza introduces nitizines, emphasizing their deadly potency:

"It's an opioid called nitizines, a synthetic opioid so potent that this makes fentanyl look weak. And it's been killing hundreds of people." [00:18]

Suna Rasmussen provides a comparison to illustrate the danger:

"Nitizines were developed in the 1950s and they were never approved to market because they were found in trials to cause breathing difficulties." [02:02]

Nitizines are 50 to 250 times more powerful than heroin and up to 15 times stronger than fentanyl [02:26]. The minimal doses required to cause overdoses—as little as half a milligram—make them especially lethal and difficult to detect.

The European Surge: An Emerging Epidemic

Unlike the United States, which has battled a long-standing opioid crisis, Europe had largely evaded such widespread issues—until now. Nitizines have infiltrated European drug markets, leading to a significant increase in overdose deaths.

Suna Rasmussen highlights the scale:

"In Estonia, nearly half of all drug-induced deaths since 2023 involved nitizines." [03:41]

The UK has also been heavily impacted, with at least 400 deaths reported over 18 months up to January of the current year [04:09]. Importantly, these figures are likely underestimates due to limited testing and awareness about nitizines.

Personal Tragedies: The Human Cost

The episode brings a personal dimension to the crisis through the story of Ann Jacques, a mother from Wales whose 23-year-old son, Alex Harpham, died from a nitizine-contaminated Xanax pill [04:36].

Jessica Mendoza narrates:

"Her son, Alex Harpham, was a college student and rising opera singer... the police found out that the Xanax Harpham took had come from the black market." [05:32]

Initially, authorities misattributed his death to Sudden Adult Death Syndrome, but Ann's persistent research uncovered the presence of nitizines, revealing the grim reality of the contamination [05:51].

Cutting the Supply Chain: How Nitizines Spread

Nitizines are primarily synthesized in China and distributed through online marketplaces. Suna Rasmussen's investigation revealed the ease with which nitizines can be procured:

"I just typed into the search bar, typed in a couple of different types of nitazines... I got 88 different ads for this." [11:31]

Using a bot, Suna engaged with suppliers on platforms like TradeKey, illustrating the brazen nature of these transactions:

"We offer door to door delivery with double customs clearance and tax included." [10:42]

Despite TradeKey's zero-tolerance policy and subsequent removal of these ads, the prevalence of suppliers indicates a robust and adaptable distribution network [11:56].

Motivations Behind the Surge: Profit and Adaptation

Drug suppliers are motivated by the high potency and low cost of nitizines, maximizing profits by cutting them into heroin and other drugs.

Suna Rasmussen explains:

"Drug suppliers are experimenting with nitizines to achieve an effect that mimics the drugs at a lower cost, maybe even give people a stronger high at a lower cost." [07:16]

The crackdown on fentanyl precursors in China has likely pushed suppliers to pivot towards nitizines, seeking new markets in Europe [14:32]. The ability to slightly alter synthetic opioids allows these drugs to evade regulatory controls, perpetuating their spread [15:12].

Government and Public Health Responses

European governments are grappling with the nitizine crisis. The UK government has issued stern warnings about the dangers of drug use in light of nitizines, labeling it as the most significant public health risk since the AIDS pandemic of the 1980s [09:10].

A director from a British drug treatment organization emphasized the unprecedented threat posed by nitizines, underscoring the urgent need for effective intervention strategies [09:40].

Future Implications: A Cautious Outlook

While Europe faces a concerning rise in nitizine-related deaths, the United States remains vigilant. However, Suna Rasmussen advises against panic in the U.S., noting the country's already saturated fentanyl market and ongoing efforts in harm reduction:

"Better harm reduction, better access to treatment, better access to naloxone... American authorities are watching this to see if that's going to happen." [16:05]

The adaptability of drug traffickers suggests that nitizines could eventually find their way into the U.S., but current measures may help mitigate this risk.

Conclusion: A Call for Vigilance and Action

The emergence of nitizines represents a significant and evolving threat to public health across Europe. As The Journal episode highlights, the combination of high potency, ease of distribution, and adaptability of suppliers necessitates a robust and coordinated response from governments, health professionals, and communities to prevent a potential opioid epidemic in Europe similar to that of the United States.

Additional reporting in this episode by Ming Lee.