Further 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 have been reported in Cork city over the past 10 days has risen to 17, the HSE has confirmed to The Echo.

The number of overdoses reported for the city has risen by three in the past 24 hours.

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

An extreme risk drug warning was issued by the executive on Thursday, December 7, 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 because of fears surrounding the potential for overdoses 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.” The extreme risk warning for Cork followed a reported 50 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”.

The HSE has 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 “(y)ou 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.