Episode 64: Are Nitazenes Being Missed? Stability in Post-Mortem Toxicology

This week on The Tox Lab, we’re exploring the stability of nitazenes in post-mortem samples and what this means for toxicological interpretation.

We discuss a recent study we have been involved in, from the unusual toxicology findings that first raised questions through to controlled stability experiments in animal models. We also examine data from the National Programme on Substance Use Mortality (NPSUM), highlighting evidence that nitazenes may be under-detected in casework and the challenges this creates for forensic toxicology.

Join us as we unpack how stability influences post-mortem results, what this means for detecting nitazenes in real-world cases, and the wider implications for surveillance and forensic practice.

Hope you enjoy!

Links to the papers we discussed:

https://doi.org/10.1080/15563650.2025.2601141

Link to the BBC documentary:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0021qsl

Disclaimer: All opinions are our own.

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