Belfast, Northern Ireland – A coroner has linked super strength street drugs, known to be “500 times stronger than morphine,” to multiple deaths across Northern Ireland for the first time. According to BBC News NI, the highly potent drugs, called Nitazenes, have been implicated in the deaths of six people with an average age of 28, with the possibility of the death toll rising as more tests are carried out.
Coroner Joe McCrisken’s findings revealed that the drug, which he describes as “a serious danger to public health,” has been circulating in Northern Ireland since April 2022. The first known death from the drug occurred that year, bringing attention to the growing issue of synthetic drug use in the country.
Nitazenes, developed in the 1950s as a pain-killing medication, are so potent and addictive that they have never been approved for medical or therapeutic use. Over the years, they have been linked to thousands of deaths in the United States and have been reported to be cut and spliced into heroin, cocaine, and street pills without the users’ knowledge.
Local drug addiction services emphasize the need for more rapid intervention and testing to address the synthetic drugs problem. Public health warnings have been issued in parts of Scotland and the Midlands in England after a sharp rise in drug overdoses and deaths. In response to the six deaths in Northern Ireland, expert Alex Bunting urges the need for earlier and more rapid testing and more funding for mental health and substance abuse strategies.
Gary McMichael, chief executive of the charity ASCERT, voices concern over the dangers of Nitazenes, emphasizing the importance of quickly developing a strategy to prevent further tragedies. He points out the vulnerability of people in the face of funding cuts and budget restrictions, stressing the pressure on resources and a culture of drug combination use in Northern Ireland.
The confirmation of Nitazenes contributing to multiple deaths in Northern Ireland serves as a stark reminder of the growing crisis of synthetic drug use. The need for rapid intervention, increased testing, and better support for mental health and substance abuse is evident as communities grapple with the devastating impact of highly potent street drugs.