Eight drug overdoses relating to powder sold as heroin reported in Cork in 36 hours 

EIGHT drug overdoses relating to a powder being sold as heroin have been reported in Cork city in 36 hours, the HSE has confirmed to The Echo.

The executive has now issued an extreme-risk drug warning after a nitazene-type substance had been linked with what it described as “recent cases of serious overdose in Cork city”.

The HSE described nitazene as “a strong synthetic opioid that can cause serious overdoses, hospitalisations, and drug-related deaths”.

HSE general manager social inclusion and primary care for the Cork and Kerry region, David Lane, told The Echo that following the overdoses, analysis had been conducted by Forensic Science Ireland which confirmed the presence of trace amounts of the substance in the samples taken.

“We have seen eight overdoses in Cork in the last two days, and one of the things that we want to get out there as a message to services and to people using illegal substances is that this is circulating in the city and to just be extra careful at this time,” said Mr Lane.

Serious overdoses in Dublin

The extreme risk warning follows dozens of serious overdoses in Dublin in the past month, and Mr Lane said that services in Cork had been “on tenterhooks” expecting the contaminated drugs to arrive in Cork.

Local wrap around supports in place with @cldatf to respond to the emergence of nitazenes on the Cork drug market.@corkcitycouncil putting alerts in public places throughout the City today to raise awareness of current risk and recommending #HarmReduction pic.twitter.com/HEZdxA01wW

— HSE Drugs.ie (@drugsdotie) December 8, 2023

The HSE said that the drug can be found in pills or powder, with current overdoses being linked to powder.

“We started to see this week an unusual number of overdoses happening [in Cork city], becoming aware very quickly that we could have been facing something similar to Dublin,” Mr Lane said.

“We were able to get our hands on a sample of the products that were being used and in the last couple of days we were able to get that tested very quickly, and we got the results back on that yesterday and they [told] us that the product that was circulating in Cork was contaminated with nitazenes.”

In a statement issued yesterday, the HSE said it was issuing a risk communication to people who use heroin in Cork city, “following a number of non-fatal overdoses on Wednesday, December 6 and Thursday, December 7”.

It said it had been confirmed through analysis that “a trace amount of a nitazene-type substance has been identified in a light brown powder associated with Cork city overdoses”.

Appeal for caution 

Professor Eamon Keenan, HSE National Clinical Lead, Addiction Services, said: “We are urging extreme caution following eight overdoses related to a powder being sold on the heroin market in the Cork region.

“Preliminary laboratory analysis has confirmed that recent overdoses may be caused by nitazenes, a potent and dangerous synthetic opioid.”

The HSE said “ongoing analysis is being conducted on the sample to identify the exact composition of the substance”.

In a list of recommendations, the HSE urged drug users to treat all substances with caution, warning “you can’t be sure of what’s in it or its strength”.

The HSE has issued a warning regarding a number of overdoses in the Cork City.

Analysis conducted by Forensic Science Ireland confirms a nitazene type substance identified in a light brown/sandy coloured powder.

We ask people to take extra care and follow #harmreduction pic.twitter.com/hpBtluzY5D

— HSE Drugs.ie (@drugsdotie) December 7, 2023

Urging extra caution “at the moment”, the HSE recommended that drug users not buy new types of drugs, or new batches, or purchase drugs from new sources.

The HSE also urged drug-users to carry naloxone, a medicine used to rapidly reverse or reduce the effects of an opioid overdose.

A spokesperson for Cork Simon told The Echo: “We are working closely with the HSE and other service providers in the city to make sure everyone we’re supporting is aware of the current risks and knows what to do should they find themselves in need of help.

“We are actively advising people of what they need to know to keep themselves and others safe, to keep in close contact with us and not to be afraid to seek medical help if someone is unwell, no matter the circumstances.”

For more information, support and harm reduction, go to drugs.ie or contact the HSE Drug and Alcohol Helpline on 1800 459 459 or email helpline@hse.ie Monday to Friday 9.30am to 5.30pm.