EU pushes Ireland to outlaw opioid that is 500 times more potent than morphine

Isotonitazene is 500 times more potent than morphine, and has slightly greater potency than fentanyl - the drug that killed legendary musician Prince. File photo: iStock

Ireland has been asked by the EU to explain why a synthetic opioid drug said to be 500 times more potent than morphine has not been outlawed, as directed by the bloc two years ago.

Doctors and public health experts have increasingly sounded the alarm in recent years about isotonitazene, an opioid analgesic that is not medically authorised.