Rep. Bob Latta
U.S. Rep. Bob Latta (R-OH) on March 18 sponsored legislation that would permanently classify 2-benzylbenzimidazole opioids, commonly known as nitazenes, as Schedule I controlled substances under the Controlled Substances Act.
“We must act now to stay ahead of the growing number of lives affected by this deadly drug,” the congressman said.
The bill, Strengthening Tools to Outlaw Poisonous (STOP) Nitazenes Act, H.R. 7970, has been referred to the House Energy and Commerce Committee and the Judiciary Committee.
Nitazenes are a class of illicit synthetic opioids that are increasingly contributing to overdose deaths nationwide. Depending on the chemical formulation, some nitazenes can be up to 800 times more potent than morphine and 40 times more potent than fentanyl, the congressman’s office explained. Illegal drugs also may be laced with nitazenes without the user’s knowledge.
Up to 2,000 people have died from nitazene-related overdoses since 2019, according to Medical Discovery News.
“Families in Ohio and across the nation have already felt the devastating impact of the ongoing fentanyl crisis. With the rise in nitazene use, the opioid epidemic is becoming even more dangerous,” Rep. Latta said.
Rep. Latta previously championed the HALT Fentanyl Act, which was signed into law on July 16, 2025, permanently classifying fentanyl-related substances as Schedule I drugs.