NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — A powerful synthetic opioid that's hundreds to thousands of times more potent than morphine is emerging as a new public health threat in Tennessee, where it's been linked to more than 90 deaths.

Nitazenes, a group of synthetic opioids, can be up to 20 times more potent than fentanyl. These drugs are increasingly appearing on Tennessee streets, according to medical experts.

"This is a public health emergency. It's not just about a drug. It's really something that we need everybody to be on the same page about. We need law enforcement. We need medical doctors. We need first responders," Dr. Shravani Durbhakula said.

Durbhakula is the director of comprehensive pain services at Vanderbilt Medical Center.

"So we're talking hundreds to thousands of times more potent

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