SMART ALERT AUGUST 2020 ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES Division of Substance Use Prevention and Recovery VOLUME XIV, ISSUE VI

JB Pritzker, Governor · Grace B. Hou, Secretary · Danielle L. Kirby, Director

DUPAGE COUNTY PRESS RELEASE REGARDING NEW STREET DRUG OVERDOSES Flualprazolam and We have been informed by Dr. Richard Jorgensen, DuPage County Coroner, of the occurrence of two isotonitazene overdoses have new street drugs in the area. These drugs are flualprazolam and isotonitazene. The DuPage recently been recorded in Coroner’s Office has investigated eleven (11) deaths involving flualprazolam and four (4) to DuPage and Cook County. isotonitazene. These are new and dangerous drugs. Overdose deaths involving isotonitazene and flualprazolam have also been recorded in Cook County within the past year.

Information about these drugs are:

Flualprazolam is a benzodiazepine derivative and counterfeit pills that may have a M or an 8 has sedative and anxiolytic effects. It was first stamped one side and to look like or synthesized in 1976 but not presented to the FDA 8mg Dilaudid () tablet. The for approval and was never marketed. It has symptoms of use are similar to in general. subsequently been sold as a . Isotonitazene is considered one of the most persistent and prevalent new opioids. A thorough expert and scientific report from the World Health Organization can be found below: (Narcan) can be used, but multiple doses may need to be administered. The potency of https://www.who.int/medicines/access/controlled- isotonitazene may require more than a usual dose substances/Final_Flualprazolam.pdf?ua=1 of naloxone to reverse the opioid overdose. Isotonitazene is a potent synthetic opioid If you need help getting naloxone in your area, commonly referred to as "iso." This drug please contact the Illinois Helpline for Opioids and is in the family of opioids and is Other Substances by calling 1-833-2FINDHELP (1- derived from another drug called , 833-234-6343), texting "HELP" to 833234, or which is a powerful pain medication. Estimated at visiting: www.helplineIL.org. 1000x as potent as the potency of this drug is similar or greater than and is a Please see the press release using the link below: Schedule I controlled substance (No accepted https://www.dupageco.org/Coroner/Coroner_News/ medical use). 2020/63262/ Isotonitazene has no current approved clinical use and has a high rate of addiction. The drug is an off- white or white powder and is often pressed into

Division of Substance Use Prevention and Recovery Division of Substance Use Prevention and Recovery SUPR HELP DESK: [email protected] 401 South Clinton Street, Second Floor 600 East Ash Street Chicago, Illinois 60607 Building 500, Third Floor North phone 312.814.3840 | fax 312.814.5864 Springfield, Illinois 62703 phone 217.524.4138 | fax 217.558.4656