Rise in number of overdoses relating to powder sold as heroin reported in Cork

THE number of drug overdoses relating to a powder sold as heroin reported in Cork over the past six days has risen to 13, the HSE has confirmed to The Echo.

The executive said it was unable to confirm whether there had been any fatalities associated with the overdoses.

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

Nitazenes were developed in the 1950s as synthetic opioid analgesics and an alternative to morphine, but were never approved for the medical market.

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

It said it had 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. Ongoing analysis is being conducted on the sample to identify the exact composition of the substance.” 

The extreme risk warning for Cork followed dozens of serious overdoses in Dublin over the past month.

The drug, the HSE said, “could be sold as a powder or as heroin without people knowing”.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, the HSE advised that users of illegal drugs are at extra risk at this time and it strongly recommended that people not try new types of drugs or new batches being sold on the market.

“Due to this concerning rise in opioid overdoses in the Cork city area and the risks posed by nitazene-type substances, the HSE is continuing to collaborate with various partners, including hospital emergency departments, emergency services, non-governmental organisation (NGO) service providers, An Garda Síochána, and laboratories at the National Drug Treatment Centre and Forensic Science Ireland to monitor the situation closely.” 

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”.

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 always carry naloxone, a medicine used to rapidly reverse or reduce the effects of an opioid overdose.

For further 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.