*Palm Beach County, Florida law enforcement officials have uncovered a new synthetic opioid that poses a significant threat to public health. Known as N-Desethyl Isotonitazene, or ISO, this extraordinarily potent drug is believed to be up to 50 times more powerful than fentanyl, intensifying concerns in the ongoing struggle against opioid overdose deaths.
According to Mike Jachles, public information officer for the West Palm Beach Police Department, ISO had only been identified in Philadelphia, where it first appeared in December 2022. The Philadelphia Health Department issued a March 2023 alert warning of its dangers.
The West Palm Beach police’s Organized Crime Unit recently made a significant breakthrough, seizing 20 kilograms of ISO during a search warrant at a house and storage unit in Palm Beach County. The bust, resulting from a tip received in February, also led to the recovery of several firearms and rounds of ammunition and the arrest of an unidentified individual. The estimated value of the seized ISO is approximately $1.6 million.
“This is serious, this is scary. It is a public health issue,” Jachles told Newsweek. He explained that the trafficker had been distributing ISO in forms that mimicked popular narcotics like OxyContin and Percocet. With its potency 40 to 50 times stronger than pharmacy-grade fentanyl, ISO poses extreme risks, particularly to unsuspecting users
The discovery of ISO in Palm Beach comes against the backdrop of a devastating fentanyl crisis in the United States. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), synthetic opioids like fentanyl were responsible for 70 percent of the estimated 107,543 drug overdose deaths in the previous year. These alarming statistics highlight the severity of the opioid epidemic affecting communities across the nation.
“This is not just a one-city problem,” Jachles emphasized. “Illegal drugs transcend all socioeconomic levels and races. This is a national issue, not just a local one.”ISO, which can appear as a yellow, brown, or off-white powder, is often mixed with other drugs like heroin and fentanyl. This makes the final product both more potent and cheaper to produce, significantly increasing the risk of overdose. The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has raised serious concerns about ISO’s heightened potency and the rising number of overdoses it has caused.
In a 2022 release, the DEA highlighted that ISO’s high potency substantially raises the risk of deadly overdoses, often without the user’s knowledge. Current testing methods can only identify ISO through lab analysis, meaning that users often don’t realize they’re consuming such a potent substance until it’s too late.The recent seizure and ongoing investigation underline the critical need for public awareness and safety measures to combat the spread of ISO. Police departments and health officials are urging communities to remain vigilant and support educational outreach on the dangers posed by synthetic opioids. Effective collaboration between law enforcement, healthcare providers, and community organizations is essential to tackle this complex crisis. Interestingly, West Palm Beach and Palm Beach County, known for their affluent residents, including nine billionaires and over 10,200 millionaires as of March 2024, are not immune to the growing opioid crisis. Despite the area’s economic prosperity, the discovery of ISO serves as a stark reminder that no community is safe from the dangers of synthetic drugs.
As public health and safety continue to be top priorities, the discovery of ISO in Palm Beach underscores the relentless battle against opioid addiction and the ever-evolving threats posed by synthetic drugs. By raising awareness and bolstering enforcement, communities can work together to mitigate the risks and save lives amid an increasingly challenging drug landscape.
By confronting this multifaceted crisis head-on, Palm Beach County hopes to prevent further tragedy and protect its residents, regardless of their economic status.
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