Senate and Assembly Health Chairs Urge Governor Hochul to Address Healthcare Coverage Loss Issue in Budget

 

450,000 New Yorkers face healthcare coverage loss beginning July 1, 2026

Senator Gustavo Rivera and Assemblymember Amy Paulin alongside more than 75 legislators sent a letter to Governor Kathy Hochul urging the state to take action and protect access to affordable health coverage in this year’s budget. Hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers are at risk of losing their health insurance due to the Trump administration and Congressional Republicans' blatant inaction on marketplace premium assistance and the implementation of the 2025 federal budget reconciliation bill, H.R.1 (HR1).

“The devastating cuts from Washington will leave millions of New Yorkers without adequate or affordable healthcare coverage, threatening our entire healthcare ecosystem,” said State Senator Gustavo Rivera. “In the midst of an unprecedented affordability crisis and abandonment by our federal government, our State needs to step up and include funding in this budget to protect basic healthcare access.”

“I look forward to working with Governor Hochul and legislative leaders to help maintain New York as a leader in health insurance coverage. The time to address this issue is now in the final budget,” said Assemblywoman Amy Paulin. 

Last month, in order to address this looming crisis, Assembly Health Chair Paulin and Senate Health Chair Rivera put forth a proposed solution in the form of S9589/A10926. As of May 12th, this bill has broad support including 39 co-sponsors in the Senate and 73 co-sponsors in the Assembly. 

This bill will: 

•   Direct the state to continue to provide the Essential Plan coverage for all residents with incomes between 200%-250% FPL. This protects 444,000 working families who will lose coverage under the Essential Plan on July 1, 2026.

•   Direct the state to continue to provide Essential Plan coverage to lawfully present immigrants with incomes between 133-200% of the FPL. This would cover Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) and PRUCOL (permanently residing under color of law) populations, approximately 6,000 individuals.

•   Create a state funded premium assistance program to replace lost federal subsidies for New Yorkers who will lose access because of HR1. This would be for lawfully present immigrants with income between 250-400% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL). This is estimated to capture around 15,000 New Yorkers.

Read the letter here. 

NYS Office of the Comptroller State Comptroller DiNapoli Releases Annual IDA Report

 

New York's 106 local Industrial Development Agencies (IDAs) reported 4,183 active projects with a total value of over $140 billion in fiscal year end (FYE) 2024, an increase of 3.5% or $4.7 billion from the prior year, according to an annual report released today by State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli.

“IDAs granted $2.1 billion in tax exemptions in 2024, continuing an upward trend,” DiNapoli said. “The tax benefits provided by IDAs can attract businesses and spur job growth in the communities that they serve, but caution is warranted. Local officials and other stakeholders should monitor the costs and benefits associated with IDA projects to ensure that these investments yield positive results for their residents and deliver on the job creation, retention and other commitments being made.”

DiNapoli’s report summarizes the most recent annual project and financial data reported by IDAs through the Public Authorities Reporting Information System. The data is not independently verified by the State Comptroller’s Office. Highlights of notable IDA activity in FYE 2024 includes:

• Of the 4,183 active IDA projects, 2,624 (62.7%) were county IDA projects, followed by towns (17.5%), cities excluding New York City (12.3%), New York City (6.9%), villages (0.5%) and city-town IDAs (0.1%).
• The number of IDA projects has declined by 8.9% since FYE 2014, while the total value of all IDA projects has increased by 67.6%.
• Project operators estimated that 196,067 jobs would be created by all IDA projects, a decline of 3.3% from FYE 2023. This reflects 6,639 fewer jobs, but the median salary for these jobs increased slightly – from $40,000 in FYE 2023 to $41,065 in FYE 2024.
• The number of net jobs gained (reflecting current jobs reported by project operators minus initial jobs reported before becoming IDA projects) was 204,301, a decrease of 9.9% from FYE 2023.
• Total tax exemptions for IDA projects were nearly $2.1 billion, up 5.2% ($101 million) over FYE 2023. Property tax exemptions represented over 87% ($1.8 billion) of all tax exemptions granted.
• A total of $942 million in payments in lieu of taxes (PILOTs) partially offset those tax exemptions, resulting in total net tax exemptions of $1.1 billion, up 3.9% from FYE 2023.
• Aggregate IDA revenues totaled $123.7 million, while expenditures totaled $87.8 million. The New York City IDA reported $6 million in total expenditures, the highest of any IDA.
• IDAs reported 187 new projects, of which the Finger Lakes region, for the second year in a row, had the most of any region at 45 projects, followed by the regions of Long Island (39), Mid-Hudson, and Western New York (both 20).
• New IDA projects had a combined value of $4.9 billion. The Mid-Hudson region had the highest aggregate value of new projects of any region with $1.9 billion, followed by the regions of Long Island ($814 million), the Finger Lakes ($555 million) and the Capital District ($262 million). Conversely, the Mohawk Valley and the North Country regions each had under $100 million in total new project value.

• Only three regions – New York City, the North Country and the Capital District – increased their project value compared to FYE 2023. New York City increased from $97 million in FYE 2023 to $595 million in FYE 2024, driven largely by new projects in the category of transportation, communication, electric, gas, and sanitary services.

IDA reform legislation enacted in 2015 requires IDAs to assess the progress of each project annually and develop policies for the discontinuance or return of some or all of the financial assistance provided for a project (known as a claw back) under specified circumstances, such as material shortfalls in job creation or violations of a project agreement. In FYE 2015, 18 out of 109 active IDAs (16.5%) reported that none of their projects had claw back agreements. In FYE 2024, that share had fallen to 10 out of 106 IDAs (9.4%).

DiNapoli’s office examines IDA costs and outcomes in several ways, including performing audits of the operations of individual IDAs, providing training to IDA officials on various topics, and encouraging improvements in IDA procedures and reporting.

Annual Report

Performance of Industrial Development Agencies in New York State – 2026 Annual Report 

IDA Data by Region

Industrial Development Agencies in New York State

DEC AND OPRHP ANNOUNCE FINALIZATION OF “30x30” OPEN SPACE CONSERVATON STRATEGIES AND METHODOLOGY

 

Outlines Key Measures to Conserve 30 Percent of New York Lands and Waters by 2030 and Support a Greener, Healthier, and More Resilient New York State

Informs Open Space Conservation Grant Programs Funded Through the Environmental Bond Act and the Environmental Protection Fund 

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and the Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (OPRHP) today announced the release of the final 30x30 Strategies and Methodology, a key milestone in advancing New York State’s commitment to conserving 30 percent of its lands and waters by 2030. It outlines the State’s scientific framework, criteria, and strategic approach to identify, measure, and advance conservation efforts. The final document reflects extensive collaboration with State agencies, local governments, Tribal Nations, landowners, conservation organizations, and community stakeholders. 

Governor Kathy Hochul in 2022 signed legislation codifying New York's commitment to conserve 30% of the State's lands and waters by 2030 in collaboration with a broad group of partners and stakeholders. 

DEC Commissioner Amanda Lefton said, “Conserving New York’s lands and waters is a priority of Governor Hochul and fundamental to protecting biodiversity, strengthening climate resilience, and ensuring the benefits of our natural resources can be enjoyed by future generations. The final 30x30 guidance document provides a clear, credible, and measurable path forward—one that recognizes the urgency of conservation while valuing collaboration, equity, and sound science.” 

OPRHP Acting Commissioner Kathy Moser said, “New York’s state parks, historic sites, and protected landscapes play a critical role in achieving the goals of 30x30. This strategy reflects our commitment to stewardship, recreation, and partnerships that connect people to the outdoors while safeguarding the places that define our state.”

DEC and OPRHP released a draft of the 30x30 Strategies and Methodology on July 1, 2024, for public comment and held two virtual public meetings to facilitate meaningful public engagement, discussion, and comment. More than 400 public comments and recommendations were received, which were essential in developing a thoughtful and inclusive approach to achieving conservation goals. A summary of the public comments and a responsiveness summary can be found on DEC’s website. 

Progress Towards 30x30

To date, more than 23% of New York State’s lands and waters are conserved. Since 2022, DEC and OPRHP are making substantial gains towards the 30x30 goal with the conservation of more than 36,241 acres of open space through direct fee acquisitions and conservation easements, as well as new policies and programs that engage partnering landowners across the state. 

For instance, the newly announced Open Space Conservation Grant Program—with an available $25 million for land conservation partners to protect and conserve open space—will contribute directly to 30x30. Thanks to funding provided by the Clean Water, Clean Air and Green Jobs Environmental Bond Act, municipalities, not-for-profits, and Indian Nations or Tribes can apply for grants to purchase land for permanent conservation. 

In addition, DEC collaborates with the Land Trust Alliance to award grants through the New York State Conservation Partnership Program and Forest Conservation Easements for Land Trusts that will result in the conservation of nearly 20,000 acres once all projects are completed (2022 – 2025). 

Recent DEC acquisition accomplishments include:

• Acquiring multiple land parcels to create the Cowee State Forest in 2024. Additional acquisitions since then have brought the total number of acres for the state forest to 4,574 (2022 through 2025).
• Acquiring more than 1,200 acres to create the Blue Hill State Forest in Western New York (2024).
• Permanently protecting more than 14,600 acres through the Raquette River Recreational Access and Follensby Pond Research Preserve conservation easements (2024).
• Adding more than 900 acres to the Forest Preserve in the Catskill Mountains (2025).
• Acquired more than 3,300 acres along Spruce Creek in Herkimer County to add to the Forest Preserve and create a new state forest (2025). 

Recent OPRHP acquisition accomplishments include:

• Adding 946 acres to the Hudson Highlands State Park Preserve (2022).
• Adding 179 acres to the Schunnemunk State Park (2022).
• Adding 763 acres to Clarence Fahnestock Memorial State Park (2024).
• Adding 79 acres to Saratoga Spa State Park (2026).
• Partnering with The Nature Conservancy to add 203 acres to Fillmore Glen State Park and protect 72 acres of forested wetlands in Venice (2024).
• Adding nearly 300 acres to Minnewaska State Park (2025).
• Assisting Rockland County with their acquisition of the 236-acre Eagle Valley Assemblage (2025). 

Open Space Institute President and CEO Erik Kulleseid said, “Conservation is critical to ensuring a healthy future for New York’s people, wildlife, and communities, and the 30x30 framework sets a clear pathway for science based progress. OSI applauds Governor Kathy Hochul, DEC Commissioner Amanda Lefton, and acting NYS Parks Commissioner Kathy Moser for their leadership in advancing methodology that will strategically maximize the state’s investments in protecting land and water while delivering real benefits for everyone across our state.” 

Help New York Achieve Our Goal: Submit Your Open Space Property to the Database

The 2025-26 enacted State Budget increased the Environmental Protection Fund (EPF) to a record $425 million, which included funding for the New York Natural Heritage Program to update and improve the New York Protected Areas Database (NYPAD). This spatial database is an essential resource for tracking 30x30’s permanently protected lands and a planning tool for State agencies, organizations, and individuals working to conserve New York’s lands and waters. If you are a land trust, municipality, or county that holds conserved open space (either land held in fee or a conservation easement), please check NYPAD’s interactive map to make sure your land is counted. If lands do not appear on the map, help us make it count by completing this short form. Sharing information on protected land can help us better track the progress of 30x30.

Mamdani Administration Releases “SPEED” Reforms to Deliver Affordable Housing Faster

 

Environmental review, permitting and lease-up reforms will cut development timelines by as much as two years  

  

Reforms include overhauling housing lottery system and changes to environmental review   

Today, Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani, Deputy Mayor Leila Bozorg and Deputy Mayor Julia Kerson released the Streamlining Procedures to Expedite Equitable Development (“SPEED”) report, a sweeping set of reforms to deliver affordable housing faster across New York City.

 

The reforms target every stage of the development process, including pre-development, permitting and lease-up, and will cut timelines for all affordable housing projects by eight months. For projects that require a zoning change, the reforms will reduce timelines by as much as two years.

 

“These delays are not inevitable. They are the result of broken systems and a failure of political will,” said Mayor Mamdani. “New Yorkers cannot afford to wait years for affordable housing while projects sit trapped in bureaucracy. SPEED is about making government deliver – faster, fairer and at the scale this crisis demands.”  

 

“Our administration is tackling the housing crisis with the urgency that New Yorkers deserve. With these investments and procedural changes, we will cut months or even years off of the affordable housing development timeline – months that New Yorkers can spend in permanent housing instead of instability,” said Leila Bozorg, Deputy Mayor for Housing and Planning. “I’m grateful for the work of the SPEED Task Force, agency partners, and everyone who helped identify ways to build a more effective government.”  

  

“This administration is clear-eyed in our mission to prove that government can deliver quickly and at scale,” said Deputy Mayor for Operations Julia Kerson. “Whether overhauling permitting through SPEED or pursuing Alternative Delivery contracting, we're slashing project timelines in half. Faster, more efficient execution means more families in homes and better outcomes for New Yorkers across all five boroughs.”  

  

“With the housing crisis impacting New Yorkers every day, we must do everything we can to deliver affordable homes more quickly — and streamlining regulations through SPEED will help us do exactly that,” said Department of City Planning Director Sideya Sherman. “By reducing the pre-certification timeline for many projects from two years to six months, we will get shovels in the ground and New Yorkers into homes faster — while maintaining a fair and thorough review process. These commonsense reforms are a critical part of our broader effort to meet the urgency of the moment and build a more equitable and affordable New York City.”  

  

“Our housing crisis demands that we move faster. The SPEED report lays out a vision for overhauling our affordable housing lease-up process that will significantly improve the timeline and user-experience for hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers who rely on the Housing Connect lottery system. By cutting application approval times in half — to under 100 days — families can move in sooner,” said Dina Levy, Commissioner of the Department of Housing Preservation & Development. “Together with permitting and development changes, we’re cutting 8 months off the timeline from inception to move-in day. This will help us get more families into affordable housing faster, making a real difference for thousands of New Yorkers. We won’t let red tape and outdated systems stand between families and the affordable housing they deserve.”  

  

“In the face of the ongoing affordability crisis and the city’s anemic rental vacancy rate, this administration must continue to be unapologetically pro-housing,” said Buildings Commissioner Ahmed Tigani. “The Mayor’s SPEED report is a comprehensive blueprint that will unlock strategies to facilitate the efficient and safe construction of more badly needed housing for New York City families. More than just reshaping the development process so that we are responsive to the challenges of construction while taking advantage of new opportunities, today’s announcement sends a message to the industry that the five boroughs are the best place to plan their next building project.”  

 

“We are proud to be part of this whole of government response to tackle the housing crisis with creativity, urgency and bold initiative,” said Department of Social Services Commissioner Erin Dalton. “We are cutting the red tape, reducing administrative burdens, and collaborating with key stakeholders to streamline processes and expedite connections to deeply affordable housing for vulnerable New Yorkers. We applaud the Mamdani Administration’s commitment to creating affordable housing at an unprecedented speed and scale by leaving no stone unturned to create efficiencies across agencies and prioritizing the needs of housing insecure New Yorkers across the city.” 

  

The SPEED reforms will make City processes faster and more accountable across four stages of development: environmental review and planning; pre-development and financing; permitting and approvals; and marketing and lease-up.   

  

As a part of the overhaul, the administration will cut the “pre-certification” process for many projects requiring zoning changes from roughly two years to six months. The City will also reduce the permitting timelines for both new construction and office-to-residential conversion projects by approximately five months.  

  

To move New Yorkers into completed affordable housing more quickly, the City will also overhaul the City’s housing lottery system. The Mamdani administration will implement immediate improvements while building a more flexible long-term system that is fair, transparent and easier to navigate.  

  

The reforms will cut the time between construction completion and move-in in half – from 210 days to fewer than 100 days.  

  

The reforms were developed by the SPEED Task Force, which Mayor Mamdani created by executive order his first day in office. The Task Force held roundtables with more than 100 industry experts, advocates, developers, builders and trade organizations and received more than 500 recommendations that informed the final reforms.   

  

None of the reforms require legislative action or change the City’s discretionary approval process for projects.  

  

These reforms build on additional housing initiatives launched by the administration, including the City’s first-ever Expedited Land Use Review Procedure (ELURP) and the Neighborhood Builders Fast Track program. Together, those initiatives will reduce the pre-development timelines for affordable housing projects by more than two years.   

  

“We can't build the New York City of 2050 with an environmental review process from the last century,” said NYC Department of Transportation Commissioner Mike Flynn. “Reforming how we study the impacts of new rezoning initiatives and development projects on our transportation network will speed up the process of getting much needed housing built, and it will help us better understand the multi-modal transportation needs of New Yorkers.”  

  

“NYC Parks was proud to collaborate with sister agencies on the SPEED Task Force to increase efficiency for developers working near parkland or conducting tree work,” said NYC Parks Commissioner Tricia Shimamura. “With the rollout of these reforms, this administration continues to ensure that government is delivering results for working New Yorkers.”  

  

“Solving our housing crisis will require reducing barriers at every stage of the pipeline, from permitting to lease-up,” said City Comptroller Mark Levine. “These reforms target key points along the housing creation timeline to do exactly that. Recent efforts to spur housing creation in New York City—from last year’s City Charter changes, to my office’s NYC Housing Investment Initiative to finance new construction and preservation, to the SPEED reforms—are mutually reinforcing. I applaud this Administration’s focus on addressing the housing crisis, and I look forward to continuing this work together to ensure New Yorkers can afford to live in the city we all love.”  

Homeland Security Task Force Investigation Leads to Arrest of Uncle & Nephew, Seizure of More Than 80 Kilograms of Suspected Cocaine

 

Two Southwest Ohio relatives were arrested by federal agents for allegedly conducting large-scale cocaine trafficking.

Damian Galan, 31, of Cincinnati, and Diego Galan, 19, of Fairfield, will appear in federal court today for initial appearances.

According to charging documents, agencies within the Cincinnati Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) received information regarding the Galans’ potential drug trafficking throughout the Southern District of Ohio and elsewhere.

Surveillance of the men and intercepted communications led law enforcement officials to a Holiday Inn Express in Columbus on May 9. Damian and Diego Galan allegedly traveled to the hotel in tandem and obtained four 17-gallon storage containers from two Hispanic males staying at the hotel. The storage containers were placed in the trunk and backseat of Damian Galan’s vehicle.

The defendants then allegedly traveled to Diego’s residence and Fairfield, where they moved the four storage containers.

Law enforcement officials executed search warrants at both Galan residences. They discovered four kilograms of suspected cocaine and a firearm at Damian Galan’s home.  The search of Diego GALAN’s residence recovered the storage bins – which contained approximately 77 kilograms of suspected cocaine – along with bulk cash, firearms and suspected methamphetamine.

The men were arrested in the early morning hours of May 10, 2026.

They are each charged with conspiring to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute cocaine, a federal crime punishable by up not less then ten (10) years imprisonment and up to Life. 

Dominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio and members of the HSTF, including the DEA, Cincinnati Police Department, FBI, HSI and the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office’s  Regional Narcotics Unit (RENU), announced the charges. Executive Assistant United States Attorney Christy L. Muncy is representing the United States in this case.

This case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Cincinnati comprises agents and officers from federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies.

A criminal complaint merely contains allegations, and defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.

Another Member of Notorious Philadelphia ‘10th and O Crew’ Sentenced to 60 Months for Opioid Drug Conspiracy

 

A Pennsylvania man was sentenced in the District of New Jersey to 60 months in prison for conspiracy to distribute oxycodone, a highly addictive controlled substance.  

According to court documents, between July 2019 and July 2024, Michael Emma, 66, of Philadelphia, engaged in the unlawful sale of prescription oxycodone pills as a member of South Philadelphia’s notorious “10th and O Crew.” Emma obtained the pills from doctors’ offices in the area, and he and his co-conspirators worked in shifts to distribute the pills from a 24-hour restaurant.

During the course of the investigation, law enforcement purchased pills from one of Emma’s co-conspirators. A surveillance team then observed the co-conspirator counting the proceeds of the transaction with Emma. The photograph below captured Emma (on the left) after the transaction:

In June 2025, Emma pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to unlawfully distribute controlled substances. Emma’s co-conspirators and leaders of the 10th and O Crew, Michael Procopio and Frank Procopio, were each convicted of conspiracy to unlawfully distribute controlled substances and sentenced to six years in prison and four years and nine months in prison, respectively.

The FBI, DEA, and Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General, Medicaid Fraud Control Unit investigated the case.

Trial Attorneys Paul J. Koob and Nicholas K. Peone of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section prosecuted the case.

On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division ('Fraud Division'). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.

The Department of Justice’s Health Care Fraud Strike Force Program, currently comprised of nine strike forces operating in federal districts across the country, has charged more than 6,200 defendants who collectively billed federal health care programs and private insurers more than $45 billion since 2007. In addition, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with the Office of the Inspector General for the Department of Health and Human Services, are taking steps to hold providers accountable for their involvement in health care fraud schemes. More information can be found at www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/health-care-fraud-unit.

Governor Hochul and Mayor Mamdani Announce Additional Aid and State Actions to Stabilize New York City’s Budget

With new State funding and assistance, Mamdani Administration will officially close New York City’s budget gap  

Delivers an additional $4 billion in new support for New York City, growing on previously announced funding  

Governor Kathy Hochul and Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani today announced new state support and actions to help New York City close its budget deficit ahead of the release of Mayor Mamdani’s Fiscal Year 2027 Executive Budget. Governor Hochul, in partnership with the state legislature, has secured an additional $4 billion in gap-closing support, bringing the total new state assistance to nearly $8 billion over two years.       

With this latest agreement, the Mamdani Administration will officially close the more than $12 billion deficit it inherited from the previous administration, stabilizing the City’s finances while advancing investments that make New York more affordable for working people. These new investments build on the $1.5 billion in assistance announced in the Governor’s 30-day amendments in February and funding for universal childcare.”  

   

“From day one, I have been committed to ensuring New York City succeeds, because a strong and stable City means an even stronger New York State,” Governor Hochul said. “Today, we are fulfilling the promise to make free universal child care a reality, making significant investments in education, public safety, and infrastructure while providing the city the resources they need to continue to fund critical services for New Yorkers. This is what a results-driven, responsible partnership looks like and I’m proud to work with Mayor Mamdani to deliver for working New Yorkers.”   

   

“For years, the relationship between City Hall and Albany has been defined by dysfunction and infighting,” Mayor Mamdani said. “Governor Hochul and I, however, share a belief that government works best when we work together on behalf of the people we serve. We have partnered through every step of this process to protect the fiscal health of our city. I am thankful for her collaboration and deep commitment to securing a future for our city that working people can afford.”  

   

This budget agreement reflects a renewed partnership between City Hall and Albany rooted in a shared commitment to protect public goods and deliver the resources that keep libraries open, schools funded and streets safe and clean.   

DEA - PUBLIC SAFETY ADVISORY

 

Heightened Threat: Fentanyl Mixed with Emerging Synthetic Drugs

The United States continues to face an unprecedented and evolving drug threat driven by illicit fentanyl, which is increasingly mixed with a dangerous array of synthetic substances emerging in the illicit market. These combinations are making an already deadly drug supply even more unpredictable and lethal.

Law enforcement and public health officials are seeing fentanyl combined with highly potent substances such as xylazine, nitazenes, cychlorphine, and medetomidine. Many of these substances are not approved for human use and are often undetectable to the user.

Xylazine and medetomidine are used by veterinarians to sedate animals. Nitazenes and cychlorphine are potent, unregulated, synthetic opioids. New nitazenes tend to be introduced when regulatory actions, enforcement, and drug scheduling put pressure on existing analogues. DEA has reported 22 unique nitazenes compounds since 2020, 21 of which are listed as Schedule I controlled substances. 

Why This Matters:

• Extreme Potency: These emerging synthetic drugs can be significantly more powerful than fentanyl and greatly increase the risk of suffering a fatal overdose.
• Hidden Mixtures: These substances are frequently mixed into counterfeit pills or fentanyl powder without the user’s knowledge.
• Reduced Reversal Effectiveness: Drugs like xylazine and medetomidine are not opioids, meaning naloxone may not fully reverse their effects, complicating overdose response. Other synthetics, such as nitazenes and cychlorphine, might require several doses of naloxone to be effective. 
• Severe Health Impacts: Xylazine has been linked to devastating soft tissue damage, infections, and prolonged sedation, while other synthetics can cause rapid respiratory depression and death.

Public Safety Guidance:

• Never take a pill that wasn’t prescribed to you and dispensed by a licensed pharmacy.
• Assume all illicit drugs may contain fentanyl or other deadly additives.
• Carry naloxone and be trained in how to use it but understand it may not fully reverse all substances present.
• Call 911 immediately in any suspected drug poisoning or overdose. Time is critical.
• Stay informed and spread awareness. This threat is evolving rapidly.

Today’s illicit drug supply is more dangerous, more deceptive, and more deadly than ever before. One pill, one try can kill.

Public awareness and prevention are critical. For more information, visit DEA.gov/fentanyl free and DEA.gov/onepill.