Senate Health & Human Services Committee Chair Works to Prevent Drug-Related Deaths in Arizona with SB 1622 Signed into Law

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                                       

Tuesday, May 13, 2025

Senate Health & Human Services Committee Chair Works to Prevent

Drug-Related Deaths in Arizona with SB 1622 Signed into Law

PHOENIX, ARIZONA— Senate Health & Human Services Committee Chair Carine Werner is working to prevent drug-related deaths in Arizona with legislation just signed into law after receiving near unanimous bipartisan support in the Legislature.

"Drug dealers have begun to sell nitazenes in communities across Arizona. These synthetic drugs are considered much more powerful than fentanyl and are now claiming lives across the nation," said Senator Werner. "A Scottsdale teen lost his life in 2024 after taking a pill cut with protonitazene, which is three times more potent than fentanyl alone and 150 times stronger than heroin. This drug is so dangerous, the Food and Drug Administration never approved it, as it has no medically accepted uses."

SB 1622 adds eight synthetic opioids to the list of controlled substances, under the definition of narcotic drugs. In addition to protonitazene, butonitazene, etodesnitazene, etonitazepyne, flunitazene, isotonitazene, metodesnitazene, and metonitazene are also included, bringing state law in line with federal law. It is illegal to knowingly possess, use, manufacture, transport, or sell narcotic drugs. Penalties range from a class 4 felony to a class 2 felony, in addition to enhanced punishments and mandatory prison time imposed when certain conditions are met.

"We must take action to prevent unsuspecting victims from senselessly losing their lives to opioid overdoses, and SB 1622 is a step in the right direction," said Senator Werner. "I'm grateful for the support this bill received from both Republicans and Democrats alike. I will continue to do everything in my power at the Legislature to keep our kids safe, and I look forward to continued bipartisan support with this important mission."

This legislation takes effect 90 days after the legislature adjourns.

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For more information, contact:

Kim Quintero

Director of Communications | Arizona State Senate Republican Caucus

kquintero@azleg.gov