A SPATE OF drug overdoses in Cork and Dublin in recent weeks has led the HSE to warn heroin users about a dangerous class of drug being sold as heroin.
Fentanyls are 600 times more powerful than morphine and the HSE says that it may be sold as ‘designer’ fentanyl or ‘synthetic’ heroin.
Health officials say that five deaths are being investigated in Ireland where fentanyl is implicated. It’s believed that in these fatal cases the drug had been either smoked or injected by users.
Fentanyl is a analgesic and used in both anaesthetics and as a strong painkiller. A number of black market fentanyls have been implicated in deaths where it has been assumed to be Heroin
“At this time it seems most likely that fentanyls may be sold in powder form possibly mixed with heroin or alternatively mixed with caffeine and paracetamol to mimic the effect of heroin,” the HSE said in a statement this evening.
Therefore the drug can be snorted, swallowed or prepared for injection. By any route this drug is very dangerous.
The effects of fentanyls can be “indistinguishable” from heroin so it is believed that heroin users may be using it unwittingly.
Support around drug and alcohol use is available on the HSE’s confidential helpline (1800 459 459) and through email support service helpline@hse.ie.
Information is also available on drugs.ie.
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