Synthetic Opioid 'ISO' A New Danger, Says Howell Alliance

HOWELL, NJ — The Howell Alliance is posting a link to a federal site that explains the dangers of a synthetic opioid called "ISO," for Isotonitazene.

"Like fentanyl, ISO is much more potent than heroin and morphine, leading to fatal overdoses; it is also being mixed into and marketed as other drugs to make drugs more potent and cheaper to produce," Christa Riddle, coordinator of the Howell Alliance, posted on the Howell Police Facebook site, referring to the federal Drug Enforcement Agency's information.

Posting the information is "just being proactive with community prevention education, especially with high overdose numbers," she said.

In powder form, ISO can appear yellow, brown, or off-white in color. It has been found mixed with heroin and fentanyl, as well as pressed into fake prescription pills, the post added.

Never approved for medical use, nitazines are being sourced from China and being mixed into other drugs. It was first identified around 2019 in the Midwest, but has spread to the South and now the Eastern Seaboard, the website says. The major concern is that the drug can and has caused deadly overdoses in unsuspecting victims, the federal website says.

Read more in the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration's article "New, Dangerous Synthetic Opioid in D.C., Emerging in Tri-State Area."

Riddle reminded residents that Howell is a “Monmouth County Stigma-Free” Community, and to call 911 for a crisis, or call or text 988 for a mental health crisis.