First detected in the UK from a sample of white powder found in the back of a taxi in Wakefield in April 2021, nitazenes have since been found in heroin, cannabis, cocaine, in a vape and most often in black market pills sold as the anti-anxiety drug diazepam.
In October, a police raid on a “sophisticated factory” in Waltham Forest, north-east London, recovered approximately 150,000 nitazene tablets, the largest-ever recovered stash of synthetic opioids. Eleven people were arrested.
Det Supt Helen Rance, who is leading the investigation, said: “Synthetic opioids have been detected in batches of heroin found in London and across the UK. They substantially raise the risk of incredibly serious harm to the user, and are believed to be linked to a number of deaths.”
Prof Eamon Keenan, of the Health Safety Executive, said: “These pose a substantial risk of overdose, hospitalisation, and death.”
Ms Jones said the NCA and police had done “brilliant” work to disrupt the drug market but called for a public education campaign to alert drug users to the risks and more resources for mental health services.
Responding to the ONS drug poisoning data, David Fothergill, of the Local Government Association, said: “We are particularly concerned to see a rise in the use of new synthetic opioids and benzodiazepines.
“Councils want to see greater regulation of the sale of substances online that often enter the UK in the post and increased surveillance to alert authorities to the types of drugs people are taking.”
Last month the Government announced that 15 nitazene drugs were being banned. Now branded class A drugs, possession carries a maximum sentence of up to seven years in jail.
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2023/12/19/london-drugs-opioids-deaths-san-francisco-donna-jones/
