The police issued a warning after two people died and 10 were hospitalized in a particular area due to drugs containing a deadly synthetic opioid that is said to be ‘500 times more powerful than heroin’. The drug, nitazene, was linked to the deaths and hospitalizations, prompting authorities to caution against taking any illicit substances. The substance was found in a ‘bad batch’ of heroin in North Devon, leading to the deaths of two individuals and the hospitalization of 10 others. Nitazenes, which are synthetic opioids, were recently added to the list of controlled substances in the UK due to their potency and danger.
Nitazenes are synthetic opioids developed in the 1950s by the pharmaceutical industry, but they were never approved for use as medicines. Some nitazenes are hundreds of times more potent than heroin and can cause respiratory depression. These powerful drugs have been detected in street drugs in the UK, posing a serious health risk, especially since users may be unaware of their presence. The ease and affordability of manufacturing nitazenes make them an attractive option for those producing street drugs, further increasing the likelihood of their presence in illicit substances.
A drugs safety group in Bristol issued a warning about adulterated drugs containing nitazenes in the city. Heroin samples from different sources have been found to contain dangerous synthetic opioids, prompting urgent alerts for drug users to avoid these substances. The Bristol Drugs Project offered advice and support to drug users, encouraging them to seek naloxone, a drug that can counter the effects of an opioid overdose. The UK government recently brought a group of synthetic opioids, including nitazenes, under strict controls to prevent deaths related to these potent substances. Reports of 54 deaths in the last six months of 2023 where nitazenes were detected underscore the urgency of addressing the dangers of these drugs.
The prevalence of nitazenes in street drugs in the UK has raised concerns among authorities and organizations working to protect public health. The National Crime Agency highlighted the potential risks associated with nitazenes, which may not always be detected in post-mortem analyses following drug-related deaths. Toxicology reports may understate the role of nitazenes in fatalities, leading to further challenges in addressing the impact of these potent synthetic opioids. Urgent drug alerts and community support are crucial in informing and protecting drug users from the dangers of illicit substances containing nitazenes.
Efforts to mitigate the spread of nitazenes in street drugs involve community-level interventions, supply control measures, and outreach to drug users. Organizations like The Loop charity and the Bristol Drugs Project play a critical role in raising awareness about the risks associated with synthetic opioids like nitazenes. By providing information, support, and access to harm reduction tools like naloxone, these groups aim to reduce the harm caused by potent substrates present in illicit drugs. Collaborative efforts between law enforcement, public health agencies, and community organizations are essential in addressing the evolving challenges posed by synthetic opioids like nitazenes and protecting vulnerable individuals from the dangerous consequences of drug use.
