In the near future, I plan to re-introduce legislation (HB 1695 2023-24), to permanently schedule Nitazene compounds as Schedule I controlled substances in our Commonwealth.

On July 19, 2025, the Pennsylvania Department of Health issued an order temporarily scheduling Nitazene compounds as controlled substances to avoid an imminent hazard to public safety. Current state law allows the Department to temporarily schedule a given drug for a two-year period. In addition, in December 2021, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration scheduled Nitazene compounds as Schedule I controlled substances.

My legislation will permanently schedule the Nitzene compounds Butonitazene, etodesnitazene, flunitazene, metodesnitazene, metonitazene, Npyrrolidino etonitazene, and protonitazene. These substances are synthetic opioids identified on the illicit drug market in the United States that are similar or stronger than fentanyl.

With the increasing prevalence of these substances, we must protect the health and safety of the citizens of this Commonwealth. While a temporary fix may work in the interim, it is essential that we work towards a permanent fix, like this legislation will do.

Please join me in co-sponsoring this important piece of legislation.