TheConversation | D Delimont/Alamy
Thankfully, the production of new fentanyl-based compounds seems to have slowed. In Europe, eight new fentanyl derivatives were reported in 2016 and ten in 2017. However, no new fentanyl derivatives were reported in the period 2021 to 2023. In this period, the new compounds have been dominated by another group of opioids called nitazenes. Above: Thirteen milligrams of carfentanil is enough to knock out an elephant.