Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42421170›Full record

ArticleDrug and alcohol review2026

Price of Nitazenes for Sale on Cryptomarkets and Surface Web Shops.

Nicola Man, Monica J Barratt, Raimondo Bruno, Connor Graham, Vandit Sadaphale, Amy Peacock, Rachel Sutherland

Abstract read
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in Drug and alcohol review, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Review
  2. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Nicola ManNational Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, Australia.ORCID 0000-0003-2224-9301
Monica J BarrattNational Drug Research Institute and enAble Institute, Curtin University, Perth, Australia.
Raimondo BrunoNational Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, Australia.
Connor GrahamNational Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, Australia.
Vandit SadaphaleNational Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, Australia.
Amy PeacockNational Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, Australia.
Rachel SutherlandNational Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, Australia.ORCID 0000-0001-5337-1751

Funding

Australian GovernmentNational Health and Medical Research Council 1174630National Health and Medical Research Council 1197241National Health and Medical Research Council 2042605
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionNitazenes are potent synthetic opioids increasingly detected in illicit drug markets in Australia and globally. Little is known about the pricing of nitazenes, which can influence patterns of use and accessibility. This study examines the price of nitazenes listed for sale via cryptomarkets and surface web shops.

methodsWe collected nitazene listings on English-language cryptomarkets twice monthly from October 2021 to September 2024. Prices per gram (US dollars) were analysed using a multilevel generalised additive model, accounting for nitazene type, quantity, region of origin and delivery availability to Australia. Surface web shops were identified in March 2024 using the search query 'buy [specific nitazene] Australia', with data analysed descriptively.

resultsA total of 10,749 pricing observations of nitazene powder were identified across 29 cryptomarkets; 10 surface web shops selling nitazenes were also found. Isotonitazene had the highest median price per gram ($80 USD) among the most frequently listed nitazenes. Cryptomarket prices were significantly higher for listings shipping to Australia and originating from regions outside Asia, although there was variation by nitazene type. Cryptomarket prices trended upwards from 2024 onwards. Substantial quantity discounts were observed across nitazene types. Surface web shop prices were consistently lower than cryptomarkets. DISCUSSION AND

conclusionsNitazenes are available at relatively low prices across cryptomarkets and surface web shops. Given that price is a key determinant of drug-related harm, these findings reinforce the need to monitor online markets for their role in nitazene supply and to expand harm reduction efforts addressing the risks from these substances.

Indexed as

Analgesics, OpioidCommerceIllicit DrugsInternetAustraliaHumansAnalgesics, OpioidIllicit Drugscryptomarketsdrug marketsnitazenesnovel synthetic opioids

Identifiers

PMID42421170
PMCPMC13346510

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.