Protecting Americans and Combating Deadly Nitazene

This week, I introduced the House version of Senator Schmitt's DETECT Nitazenes Act to address the alarming rise in nitazenes, a new class of synthetic opioids that are stronger and deadlier than fentanyl. The bipartisan legislation would direct the Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate to coordinate with the Drug Enforcement Administration to enhance technologies to detect illicit substances, particularly nitazenes, at extremely low concentrations.

Nitazenes are an emerging class of illicit drugs that pose a serious threat to Americans' health and safety. Yet, today, these deadly drugs have not received the level of attention necessary to combat them. The DETECT Nitazenes Act will close critical gaps in detection capabilities, support law enforcement efforts, and improve public safety outcomes by enabling faster and more accurate identification of these deadly substances. As the risk from synthetic drugs continues to evolve, this legislation ensures that we remain prepared to respond to the next generation of deadly narcotics and protect our communities. 

Read more about the legislation in The Blaze here or by clicking the image.