Drugs & Alcohol Advice

DRUG ALERT OVERDOSE RISK

There have been accidental overdose and deaths of people across the country from Heroin and other drugs that have been mixed with Nitazenes.

Nitazenes are made in labs and mimic the effects of natural opioids such as heroin, they are often 100’s of times stronger than heroin and at least as potent as fentanyl.

Nitazenes have been found in heroin but also in other drugs such as benzos.

Your drugs may look the same even if they are contaminated.

We can provide you with testing strips to see if Nitazenes are present. Alternatively, you can use the testing service available at Wedinos

For more information on testing strips or to get advice and support, Change Grow Live (CGL), STAR East Sussex can be contacted on 0300 30 38 160. You can also contact CGL through our website

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In the past couple of weeks, the number of overdoses has been unusually high (with some deaths) among people who use drugs, primarily heroin, across parts of the country.

Testing of some batches of heroin has shown that they had been adulterated with an extremely dangerous synthetic opiate called Nitazene. Nitazenes may be hundreds of times more potent than heroin and can be at least as potent as fentanyl. Nitazenes have also been found in drugs sold as oxycodone pills and alprazolam (Xanax) powder.

Staying safe and helping others

The only way to avoid all the risks is to not take drugs which are not prescribed for you. However, if you do choose to take them, remember:

•Go low and slow - Be extra cautiousabout the sources from which you getyour drugs, and about the drugs you aretaking; maybe starting with just a quarterhit of a new supply.

•Do not use alone; make sure thatsomeone you trust is present andequipped with a couple of naloxone kits

•If using with others, it’s best if only oneperson uses the drug first and uses less asa test dose

•Don't mix drugs: Using more than one drug increases your risks of overdose, including mixing with alcohol and other depressant drugs such as diazepam and pregabalin

•Look after your friends: watch others carefully for the signs of an overdose, e.g. unable to wake up, difficulty breathing, blurred vision, weakness or slurred speech

•Make sure you have enough naloxone available: more doses of naloxone may be needed to recover from a synthetic opiate overdose.

•If you have oxycodone pills or Xanax powder that you don't take, make sure to get rid of them safely e.g. at a pharmacy or an amnesty bin (not down a toilet or in a rubbish bin).

If you don’t have a naloxone kit, or yours has expired, please contact us