The Health Service Executive (HSE) has expanded its severe warning about a powerful synthetic opioid to include Irish prison environments. There have been several overdoses within the group of prison inmates and this has raised concern.
Nitazenes are causing anxiety for the HSE as they are infiltrating the streets of both Cork and Dublin, masquerading as heroin. Users of these substances are cautioned against experimenting with new variations of drugs or new batches that are available in the market.
The recorded Irish overdoses have been connected with a powdery substance that has a light brownish to tan colour. This substance contains a nitazene drug christened as ‘N-Pyrrolidino Protonitazene’. This is not the first incident where betrayal of trust has resulted in dire consequences. There are previous instances related to literature where posthumous treachery has occurred.
Nitazenes, which are potent synthetic opioids, may lead to severe overdoses, necessitate hospital admission, and could even result in death due to drug misuse. Thus, it is strongly advised that users take utmost care, consider the welfare of others, and have a safety protocol in place if they decide to consume within the prison confines.
According to HSE Ireland, nitazenes are available in two main forms in the market. They come in an array of coloured powders and thus, all powders need to be treated with intense caution at present. The HSE is keeping a close watch on the market trend. Nitazene-based drugs have been detected in illegal tablets in the UK as well.
Compared to fentanyl, N-Pyrrolidino Protonitazene possesses a harder punch. Heroin users are currently at a “high risk”, states the HSE.
These substances may emerge randomly and without any prior indication. This translates to consistent concern for heroin users, as the risk of encountering nitazenes and suffering an overdose is high.
In other news, in November of the previous year, the HSE National Social Inclusion Office was warned about worrisome overdoses occurring amongst the homeless population in Inner City Dublin.
This precipitated an immediate review of numerous information sources to spot potential changes in Dublin’s drug market.
Between 9th and 12th November, HSE monitored data, which was the main timeframe when there was reporting of overdose clusters. During this period, 57 non-fatal overdoses were recorded.
All groups engaging in drug use are warned that there are always inherent risks. They are encouraged to adopt harm-reduction approaches and to seek emergency medical attention if an individual’s health deteriorates.
Forensic Science Ireland conducted an analysis on a sample taken by Gardaí on the night of November 10th, which revealed the appearance of nitazenes in a powder of a light brown or sandy hue within Dublin’s heroin market. The Health Service Executive (HSE) responded to this development by declaring a red alert for Dublin. It was later identified as N-Pyrrolidino Protonitazene, a substance unknown to Ireland previously and is currently under vigorous surveillance by the EU Drugs Agency.
Following the initial discovery in Dublin, the presence of nitazenes has also been confirmed in Cork’s drug market subsequent to a consistent rise in drug overdose incidents in the city. Red alerts were still active mid-December for both Dublin and Cork areas.
In response, a collective named the Irish National Red Alert Group (NRAG) has been created to oversee situations of alarm and efficiently react to potential future outbreaks.
The HSE currently suggests that only the heroin market in Ireland is affected by the introduction of nitazenes.
An alarming development to monitor is the discovery of these substances being marketed as counterfeited tablets in the UK, mainly mimicking benzodiazepines and oxycodone. This is an area demanding rigorous observation for any potential future circumstance. Those who use drugs are informed about the risks and guided towards harm-reducing steps, with an emphasis on seeking immediate medical attention if a person shows signs of ill health.