Etonitazene is a synthetic opioid that was first synthesized in 1957 by a team of researchers led by Eli Lilly and Company chemist Edward M. Burgstahler. The discovery of etonitazene was part of a larger effort by the pharmaceutical industry to develop new pain medications in the post-World War II era.
The early studies of etonitazene focused on its analgesic properties and potential medical uses, particularly as a more potent and effective alternative to existing opioids such as morphine and codeine. Etonitazene was found to be highly effective in relieving pain, but also to have a high potential for abuse and addiction.
In the 1960s and 1970s, etonitazene was investigated as a possible drug of abuse, particularly in the context of the emerging heroin epidemic in the United States. The drug was found to have a high potential for abuse and was eventually placed on the list of controlled substances in the United States in 1971.
Since then, etonitazene has remained a controlled substance and is not approved for medical use in most countries. However, it continues to be studied for its pharmacological properties and potential therapeutic applications. Some research has focused on developing modified versions of etonitazene that retain its analgesic properties but have a lower potential for abuse and addiction.
