The Health Service Executive (HSE) has issued a strong warning to people taking drugs to avoid benzodiazepine tablets following a spate of overdoses in Dublin, Galway and the Mid West.
Analysis by the HSE National Drug Treatment Centre’s Emerging Trends Laboratory confirmed that the round, yellow, counterfeit benzodiazepine tablets linked to these overdoses contained Nitazen, a powerful and dangerous synthetic opioid.
Due to the “worrying increase” in overdoses and the risks posed by Nitazen-based substances, the HSE said it was closely monitoring the situation, working with hospital emergency departments, ambulance services, NGOs, Irish police, the National Drug Treatment Centre and the Irish Forensic Science Institute.
“Analysis currently underway aims to determine the exact composition of the substance,” the official said.
Because of the unknown risks, the HSE urges people who use drugs to avoid obtaining these tablets, new batches or types of drugs, or drugs from new sources.
“If you see any signs of overdose, seek medical help immediately. Stay with the person until help arrives,” it reads.
They also advise people to obtain naloxone, which temporarily reverses the effects of opioid drugs, from their local services or doctors.
“We are urging people to exercise extreme caution as there have been a number of overdoses linked to counterfeit benzodiazepine tablets.
“Preliminary analysis suggests Nitazen, a powerful and dangerous synthetic opioid, may be the cause, which poses a significant risk of overdose, hospitalisation and death,” Professor Eamon Keenan, national clinical lead for the HSE’s addiction services, said.
Last November, the HSE National Social Inclusion Agency received reports of concerning overdoses occurring in homeless settings in Dublin city centre, with around 57 non-fatal overdoses recorded between 9th and 12th November, the main period during which a cluster of overdoses was reported.
