The Health Service Executive has said there were an additional four overdoses reported overnight following the discovery of the synthetic opioid nitazene cut with heroin in the Dublin area.
Today, the HSE has been handing out leaflets and putting up posters to make users aware of the dangers of the highly potent substance.
Emerging Drug Trends Project Manager with the HSE Nicki Killeen has been working closely with the Ana Liffey Drug Project in Dublin to make sure drug users are aware of the dangers, after the HSE issued a red alert.
She said: "We're quite concerned about products being sold on the global market and in particular at the moment, we have identified a brown powder of concern.
Extra risk: HSE has updated the status of its warning regarding heroin overdose clusters in the Dublin Region. Analysis conducted by Forensic Science Ireland (FSI) confirms trace amount of a nitazene type substance identified in brown powder associated with a Dublin overdose. pic.twitter.com/Ez8jy294vA
— HSE Ireland (@HSELive) November 10, 2023
"This powder has been found to contain trace amounts of a substance called nitazene. It's a potent synthetic opiate. I've been monitoring the emergence of this substance in Europe and the US for some time and it can come in many forms."
She said the HSE is now reaching out in particular to people who inject heroin or people who smoke heroin.
"So people who are in homeless or addiction services are at increased risk of overdose at this time. We saw a very sharp increase in overdoses during Thursday and Friday," she said.
She said last night the additional four cases has brought the total number of overdoses to 46.
There were just two presentations at St James's Hospital in Dublin giving rise to hopes that the recent number of overdose cases may have peaked and that the message is getting through.
Gardaí said there have been no seizures of the specific drug nitazene or any arrests to date.
They say they will continue to work closely in co-operation with agencies including the Department of Health, the HSEand Forensic Science Ireland to ensure that incidents involving drug use and associated risks are monitored and addressed with the objective of keeping people safe.
Gardaí are also working locally with community, advocacy and support groups to ensure that the urgent health information around this drug is spread as widely as possible.
