Columbia News

U.S. Senator Eric Schmitt (R-MO) and a bipartisan group of senators have introduced three bills aimed at addressing the growing threat posed by nitazenes, a class of synthetic opioids described as stronger and deadlier than fentanyl.

The legislative package includes the DETECT Nitazenes Act, led by Senator Schmitt, which would expand upon previous laws targeting fentanyl and xylazine to now include nitazenes. The bill seeks to provide law enforcement with additional resources, research capabilities, and technology to detect and eliminate these substances. Senators Dave McCormick (R-PA), Pete Ricketts (R-NE), Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), and Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) have joined as co-sponsors.

“Nitazenes are powerful synthetic opioids that are stronger than fentanyl, cheaper to produce, and devastatingly lethal. Their high potency and increased prevalence in Missouri will cost lives and devastate communities. In some instances, nitazenes can be up to 40 times more potent than fentanyl and hundreds of times more potent than similar drugs like heroin. We must learn from the fentanyl crisis and act now before nitazenes spiral out of control. I’m proud to work with Senators McCormick, Ricketts, Gallego, and Slotkin to address this growing problem and keep communities in Missouri, and across America, safe,” said Senator Schmitt.

The other two bills included in the package are the Nitazene Control Act—which aims to permanently place nitazenes under Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act—and the Nitazene Sanction Act. The latter would allow for sanctions against Chinese entities involved in manufacturing or distributing these drugs.

According to recent developments cited by lawmakers, the Drug Enforcement Administration has included nitazenes in its 2025 National Drug Threat Assessment report. In addition, Senator Schmitt previously co-sponsored the Halt All Lethal Trafficking (HALT) of Fentanyl Act, which became law on July 16, 2025.