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Authorities in the Czech Republic are sounding the alarm over a wave of powerful synthetic opioids entering the country, following the deaths of two men and a third near-fatal overdose in recent days.
Police and drug experts say the substances involved are likely nitazenes, a class of synthetic opioids up to 3,000 times more potent than morphine. Even microscopic amounts can cause a fatal overdose, prompting the National Drug Control Center to issue an urgent warning to the public.
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“These are extremely dangerous substances,” said police spokeswoman Lucie Šmoldasová. “Even a few crumbs can be enough to kill someone.”
The first reported cases emerged this month in connection with a white crystalline substance found at multiple overdose scenes. Though investigations are ongoing, authorities believe the drugs were ordered online, likely from suppliers in China or India, and delivered in small packages via post or courier services.
synthetic drugs emerging in Czechia
Nitazenes: Ultra-potent opioids, up to 3,000 times stronger than morphine.
Fentanyl derivatives: Powerful opioids abused via medical patches or counterfeit pills.
Spirochlorphin: Suspected synthetic opioid with high toxicity; little known but dangerous.
Clephedrone: Synthetic stimulant similar to meth, more toxic and risky when mixed with other stimulants.
The use of nitazenes—along with other fentanyl derivatives and spirochlorphin—is part of a growing global trend of new psychoactive substances hitting European markets. Unlike traditional opioids, nitazenes were never approved for medical use due to their extreme potency but have resurfaced on the black market as a cheaper, more accessible substitute following international crackdowns on fentanyl and opium production.
“We’re distributing more naloxone [medicine used to reverse overdose] to help prevent fatalities,” said Radek Jurnikl, an addictologist with the Sananim organization speaking to iDnes.cz. “But overdose can happen incredibly fast. In some cases, victims don’t even have time to react.”
Authorities recently uncovered a clephedrone lab in the Ostrava region, further highlighting concerns about synthetic drug production and trafficking. While stimulant drugs like methamphetamine remain dominant in the Czech market, experts warn that the introduction of highly potent opioids could shift local drug use patterns—with deadly consequences.
Police are urging the public not to experiment with unfamiliar substances and to seek immediate medical attention in cases of suspected overdose. Other European countries, including Estonia, Poland, Ireland, and France, have already issued similar warnings about the growing threat of synthetic opioids.
Czech officials say they are stepping up international cooperation, surveillance, and testing ahead of the summer festival season, when drug use traditionally spikes.
Cannabis is the most widely used illegal drug in Czechia followed by ecstasy, mushrooms, pervetin, and cocaine. An estimated 42,200 people at risk inject drugs, and in 2023, there were 75 fatal overdoses related to illegal substances, primarily involving pervitin, amphetamines, and opioids.
Annual deaths under the influence of illegal drugs are estimated between 130 and 150.
