MCDOWELL COUNTY, N.C. (FOX Carolina) - Officials in western North Carolina are warning the community about an uptick in a dangerous new synthetic opioid.

Deputies said they are seeing isotonitazene, also known as ISO, zene and nitazene, showing up more frequently in McDowell County.

The agency said the drug is unpredictable and potentially deadly, even the first time someone tries it.

Zene is 100 times stronger than morphine and more potent than fentanyl, according to deputies.

It’s being found in fake pills and street drugs. Deputies said overdoses sometimes require multiple doses of Narcan.

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