Prisons across Ireland have been issued an urgent drug alert following a detection of nitazine which resulted in a fatal overdose.
Analysis conducted by the HSE National Drug Treatment Centre Laboratory confirmed the presence of a nitazene-type substance associated with overdoses in Irish prisons.
One of these overdoses was fatal, the Irish Prison Service said.
Nitazenes are strong synthetic opioids that can cause serious overdoses, hospitalisation and drug-related death.
They can be found in pills or powder and are strongly liked to yellow tablets.
Extra vigilance is now being taken in prisons, while healthcare teams have adequate stocks of naloxone should clinical intervention be required.
It said it was working closely with the HSE in response to the detection and an information campaign for prisoners around the dangers of consuming nonprescribed illegal drugs is under way.
