Etodesnitazene

Etodesnitazene is a benzimidazole-derived opioid analgesic drug, which was originally developed in the late 1950s alongside etonitazene and a range of related derivatives. It is many times less potent than etonitazene itself, but still 70 times more potent than morphine in animal studies. Corresponding analogues where the N,''N''-diethyl group is replaced by piperidine or pyrrolidine rings also retain significant activity. Etodesnitazene has been sold as a designer drug, first being identified in both Poland and Finland in March 2020.

Legal Status

United Kingdom

Since 15 January 2025 it is covered by the UK's generic definition on 2-benzyl benzimidazole derived opioids because it contains the 2-ethanamine backbone with only the following modification:

The phenyl ring of the benzyl system is substituted by an alkoxy group containing two carbon atoms.