N-Desethyl Etonitazene

The following information was compiled in November 2023 and is subject to change as new research is conducted and as new information becomes available:

Description: N-Desethyl etonitazene is a novel synthetic opioid bearing structural resemblance to etonitazene, N-desethyl isotonitazene, and other nitazene (2-benzylbenzimidazole) analogues. In November 2023, N-desethyl etonitazene was detected for the first time in the United States. N-Desethyl etonitazene is a metabolite of etonitazene; however, it was detected in the absence of etonitazene and is now being sold as a drug on its own, as observed through sales on online gray market sites.

Sample Source: Boulder County Coroner’s Office, NMS Labs – Toxicology Laboratory

Sample Appearance: Blood and urine specimens

Pharmacology: In vitro pharmacological data show that N-desethyl etonitazene is an active mu opioid agonist with similar potency to etonitazene, and is approximately 10 times more potent than fentanyl.¹

Toxicology: N-Desethyl etonitazene has been detected in two toxicology cases at the CFSRE.

Drug Materials: N-Desethyl etonitazene has not been identified in drug materials to date at the CFSRE.

Demographics / Geographics: Toxicology specimens originated from the states of Colorado and Missouri. In one case, N-desethyl etonitazene was identified alongside the NPS benzodiazepine flubromazepam.

Legal Status: N-Desethyl etonitazene is not explicitly scheduled in the United States.

Class:

Opioid

Appearance:

Blood

Formula:

C20H24N4O3

MW:

368.4

[M+]:

368

[M+H]+:

369.1921

IUPAC:

2-[2-[(4-ethoxyphenyl)methyl]-5-nitro-benzimidazol-1-yl]-N-ethyl-ethanamine

Report Date:

November 30, 2023