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THERE WAS NO heroin contained in the batches of drugs behind a series of overdoses in Dublin and Cork late last year, and instead they were almost entirely synthesised in a lab.
According to chemical testing of the drugs carried out by the HSE, they contained nitazenes which were blended in a lab, along with caffeine and paracetamol.
Eamon Keenan, national clinical lead for addiction services in the HSE, said the drugs associated with two overdose clusters late last year were nitazenes, a potent and highly risky synthetic opioid, and testing has indicated the batches did not contain any heroin.
He told RTÉ Radio One’s Morning Ireland that there is no fentanyl in circulation in Ireland – and fears about fentanyl may have proved a distraction from the emerging problem of nitazenes here.
Yesterday, the government unveiled plans to extend naloxone this year after its vital role in saving lives during recent overdose clusters in Dublin and Cork.
The prescription-only medication is used as an antidote to temporarily reverse the effects of opioid drugs like heroin, morphine, methadone and synthetic opioids like nitazene if someone overdoses.
Keenan told RTÉ that subsequent testing has revealed the makeup of the batches involved in recent multiple overdoses.
“They were being sold as new heroin or strong heroin, but when we did the analysis we identified that there was actually no heroin in it,” Keenan said.
“It was nitazene drug mixed with paracetomol and caffeine and being sold, so in some ways we were wondering whether dealers were testing the market by introducing this new drug,” he added.
The type of nitazene identified in the Irish market was “15 times more powerful than fentanyl”, Keenan said.
He added: “We’ve heard a lot about fentanyl. We’ve seen no evidence on the Irish market that fentanyl is here yet.
“We’ve seen the identification of these nitazene drugs which are actually more potent … so our concern is that maybe all the talk about fentanyl is that’s distracted people.
“They hear us talking about nitazenes and they say well at least it’s not fentanyl and they may be tempted to take the nitazenes, whereas in actual fact the nitazenes are more potent than fentanyl.”
He added that this latest dose of nitazenes may have their origin in Asia, but said this is yet to be confirmed.
Keenan said overdose deaths linked to this drug are being investigated in conjunction with coroners in Dublin and Cork.
Further testing will also take place to determine whether some other deaths involving drugs in recent months involved nitazenes. Information on this is expected in the coming weeks.
“Any drug-related deaths which may have occurred around that time period, we need toxicology and lab results to be able to determine that, but they have prioritised those,” Keenan said.
Containing reporting by Órla Ryan
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There is rapid testing on arrival in many European countries, I wonder why it’s not available here? There must be a political reason why the government isn’t even talking about its adoption. Any ideas?
@Giovanni Giusti: lack of willingness to spend the money. Lack of sufficient tests levels as it is. Lack of imagination when it comes to other testing methods.
@Aidan O’ Neill: Our public health experts don’t like antigen testing according to the Taoiseach
It will take time? Why is that? Why does everything have to take an eternity and why should we be dependent on the U.K. ‘s acceptance ? I couldn’t care less what the U.K. do or not.
@Isabel Oliveira: you should Isabel. They generate massive income into this country through trade, tourism and diaspora travel. You don’t have to like but you need to understand the economics.
@Gary Sheahan: the uk will shortly be outside the EU, we will not. We need to adopt this system regardless of their stance. Our hospitality sector depends significantly on US visitors as well. They won’t be party to any EU system, so why should the UK be treated any different. Ryan needs to get the finger out and align us to EU system ASAP.
@Hugh Corcoran: The UK left the EU in January.
@Hugh Corcoran: our open border with the UK could force countries to treat us as one block so we would be on the red list everywhere!
@Isabel Oliveira: could it be that if the UK remain outside the system yet we still want to facilitate travel there, the Irish rating would not be allowable under EU system as UK travel should affect our rating due to UK potential rating?
It changes so often I wouldn’t be booking anything
Get it done NOW – time is not on our side – ACTION
They can still implement the first half (i.e. using the criteria for red and amber countries) from next week onwards while waiting to get testing in place.
@Dr Pablo Rojas Coppari: they won’t do that for one simple reason. The UK would be admitted. Other politics in place that are bordering on xenophobic
The bicycle man won’t accept it, he just doesn’t want people flying or traveling by car.
You know what would rid us of this virus? If every single one of us took some personal responsibility and just limited their contacts to 3 or 4 people outside of their own household for 4 weeks. It would be almost gone or at least down to extremely low levels of infection. Business and livelihoods would be saved, but oh no, people are far to fhckin selfish for that to happen.
I like the idea of rapid testing but of course what false positives would come through…which could block business or personal travel plans and no refunds would be available. I am glad I am not the one having to make these decisions!
@Seeking Truth: fast testing means a lot fewer cycles, so false positives are less likely. It’s irrelevant for us anyway as this government seems determined to keep us locked up and locked in
Airlines need to put in place a refund package for those who might test positive a few hours before their flights. If the don’t government must force them to by law.
@M Bowe: isn’t that what travel insurance is for?
@Kieran Frost: not covered under current policies
What’s the point in having orange?
@Bramer: it gives you an indication that countries may turn red. Which has implications for medium-term travel planning.
My job still wants me to take two weeks off to isolate if I go abroad. So none of these means anything.
If we are going to have another lockdown it should be done across europe at the same time. Then travel within Europe should be allowed. It could break the circuit on the continent also and maybe save the aviation industry
have your say