By Jonathan Eberle |

In a rare show of near-unanimous bipartisan cooperation, Arizona lawmakers have passed legislation aimed at curbing a new and deadly wave of synthetic opioids sweeping across the state. SB 1622, sponsored by State Senator Carine Werner (R-LD4), chair of the Senate Health & Human Services Committee, was signed into law earlier this week.

The bill adds eight synthetic opioids — including the highly potent drug protonitazene — to Arizona’s list of controlled narcotic substances, aligning state law with current federal drug classifications. These nitazene compounds, originally developed in the 1950s but never approved for medical use, are now being found in counterfeit pills and street drugs sold across the U.S.

“Drug dealers have begun to sell nitazenes in communities across Arizona. These synthetic drugs are considered much more powerful than fentanyl and are now claiming lives across the nation,” Senator Werner said in a statement. “A Scottsdale teen lost his life in 2024 after taking a pill cut with protonitazene, which is three times more potent than fentanyl alone and 150 times stronger than heroin.”

Anyone caught knowingly possessing, manufacturing, transporting, or selling these substances can be charged with a felony ranging from class 4 to class 2, depending on the circumstances. Enhanced penalties and mandatory prison time may apply in certain cases, such as when the drugs are sold near schools or lead to a fatal overdose. The new law takes effect 90 days after the end of the legislative session.

Nitazenes are a relatively new class of synthetic opioids that have been found in drug busts and autopsies across the country in recent years. Unlike fentanyl — which is legally manufactured for medical use and diverted into illegal markets — nitazenes have no approved clinical use and are produced illicitly. Their extreme potency, often hundreds of times stronger than morphine, makes them especially lethal even in trace amounts.

The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has been issuing warnings about nitazenes since 2021, citing a surge in overdose deaths linked to their presence in counterfeit painkillers and recreational drugs.

According to the CDC, synthetic opioids — primarily fentanyl and its analogues — were involved in nearly 75% of all drug overdose deaths in the United States in 2022. Public health officials warn that nitazenes could become the “next fentanyl” in terms of public danger and scale.

SB 1622 garnered broad support in both chambers of the Arizona Legislature, with members from both parties acknowledging the urgent need to stay ahead of evolving drug trends.

“This bill is about protecting our children and communities from a deadly threat that most people haven’t even heard of yet,” Senator Werner said. “I’m grateful for the support this bill received from both Republicans and Democrats alike.”

As Senator Werner emphasized: “We must take action to prevent unsuspecting victims from senselessly losing their lives to opioid overdoses, and SB 1622 is a step in the right direction.”

Jonathan Eberle is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.