A new class of synthetic opioids known as nitazenes is emerging globally, raising concerns about a potential new drug crisis. These substances may be even more potent than fentanyl, prompting scientists to urgently develop methods for detecting them in the drug supply. In recent weeks, nitazenes have been linked to several overdose deaths, including four fatalities in Manchester, England. Additionally, over 2,500 counterfeit oxycodone pills containing nitazenes were seized in Hamilton, Canada. This class of opioids has also been identified for the first time in the Netherlands. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration has issued warnings regarding their presence in Washington, D.C. As the situation develops, experts are racing to understand the implications of nitazenes and how to effectively monitor their spread in the illicit drug market.