National Red Alert Teams Formed in Dublin and Cork as Nitazenes Overdoses Surge
Dublin: The Health Service Executive (HSE) has taken decisive action in response to a surge in drug overdoses, particularly in Dublin and Cork, by establishing National Red Alert Teams. This move is prompted by the emergence of new lab-based opioids, notably nitazene, believed to be linked to the Taliban’s prohibition of opium poppy cultivation in Afghanistan, a region responsible for 90% of global heroin production. With drug cartels possibly shifting to local labs, three nitazene variants were discovered in Europe in 2023, contributing to overdose clusters in Dublin, Cork, and France.
To address this alarming situation, the HSE has formed comprehensive red alert teams involving laboratories, emergency services, and universities. Local response teams are being established in each HSE region, collaborating closely with ambulance and fire service personnel who will promptly report overdose incidents. Simultaneously, regional response teams will notify law enforcement (Gardaí), and the National Response Team will conduct thorough examinations of drug content and initiate follow-up actions.
The HSE and drug addiction experts express deep concern about the use of the synthetic opioid nitazine in Ireland due to its high lethality. Initially mistaken for heroin, nitazene, identified as a light brown powder that transforms into a jelly-like substance when heated, entered the Irish market in November. The drug, a blend of paracetamol and caffeine, led to 57 overdoses in Dublin and 17 in Cork within five days.
Nicki Killeen, head of the HSE’s drugs division, emphasised the need to enhance drug market surveillance. European data highlighting increased synthetic opiate nitazene production prompted this vigilance, with Killeen revealing that the substance is 15 times more lethal than fentanyl. While Ireland has been monitoring the fentanyl opioid due to its impact on communities in the United States, Killeen stressed the importance of redirecting attention to the emerging threat posed by nitazene, ensuring comprehensive surveillance and proactive measures across all Community Health Organisation (CHO) areas.
Irish Samachar English News
Kindly click the link below to join WhatsApp group chat to get important news and breaking news from Irish Samachar.
Comments are closed.