Dangerous Contaminated Drugs Alert!
Nitazines are a strong class of synthetic opioids that are increasingly found across UK drug suppy, warns drugs and the law charity Release and the European Network Of People Who Use Drugs (INPUD).
Nitazines don’t have a standard look – they come in powder and pill form. They’ve been detected in heroin, valium, oxys, and even synthetic cannabis (Spice). So far, they’ve been detected all across the UK, particularly in the heroin/opioid supply, which may put the homeless and rough sleepers in particular danger.
Alan Matthews, who worked in the drugs field for over thirty years as a researcher/writer and trainer and now works at Bosco House, said: “Contaminated drugs are nothing new, which is why it’s so important to test for the contents of substances bought on the street. Over the past few years, Fentanyl (which is 50 times stronger than heroin) has been a major worry. Overdose deaths where Fentanyl is involved have steadily risen, and this new kid on the block, Nitazines, is only going to add to fatalities.”
But why are street drugs contaminated with more dangerous substances? Alan explains: “It’s mainly down to the so-called ‘War On Drugs’. Producers of illicit drugs are always looking to maximise profits, so if you can introduce a cheaper, synthetic drug into the supply chain, such as Fentanyl and now Nitazines, your profits go up. Couple that with opium poppy fields in Afghanistan being destroyed by the Taliban and, therefore, causing a heroin drought in this country, this is the perfect time for producers to add synthetics to the supply chain. It’s the perfect storm.”
So, what can be done to help make drug use safer? Here’s some advice:
- Test your drugs. Fentanyl test strips don’t work with Nitazines, and there are no specific urine or mouth swab tests yet. You can send anonymous samples to WEDINOS (wedinos.org) the Welsh government’s drug testing service. The test results will be published within a few days. Ask an outreach worker, your key worker, or a friend to print off a ‘Sample & Effects record’ from wedinos.org to do this.
- Start low, go slow, and try not to use alone. Start with low doses and wait for peak effects to pass before redosing. Try taking turns using with a friend to ensure you can help each other if needed.
- Carry Naloxone. Nitazines are showing up in all drug supply, not just opioids. Get Naloxone from your local drugs service, learn how to detect an overdose and what to do. Because Fentanyl and Nitazines are so strong, multiple doses of Naloxone may be needed to save a life.
Homeless services can play a big part in saving lives, particularly if clients are not in drug treatment. Talk to your clients and give them the information about contaminated drugs. It could save a life.
