A potent and deadly class of synthetic opioids known as Nitazenes has been linked to the tragic deaths of six individuals in Northern Ireland, BBC reports.
These street drugs, estimated to be a staggering 500 times more potent than morphine, have emerged as a severe public health crisis, and their rapid proliferation is causing mounting concern among health authorities.
The victims, with an average age of just 28, have fallen prey to the extreme potency and addictive nature of Nitazenes, raising alarm bells across the region.
The gravity of this crisis has been underscored by Coroner Joe McCrisken, who described Nitazenes as "a serious danger to public health."
The Danger of Nitazenes
A recent study tells us that people who overdosed on nitazenes typically required two or more doses of the overdose-reversing medication naloxone, whereas those who overdosed on fentanyl usually needed only one dose.
Nitazenes, developed 60 years ago as potential painkillers, have never been approved for medical or therapeutic use due to their extraordinary potency and addictive qualities.
Recent years have seen Nitazenes implicated in thousands of deaths in the United States. These drugs have been secretly mixed with other substances, including heroin, cocaine, and street pills.
Whether injected, inhaled, or swallowed, combining Nitazenes with other substances, particularly alcohol, significantly elevates the risk of overdose and death.
The Public Health Agency (PHA) in Northern Ireland has issued warnings about the varying potency levels of these new synthetic opioids, emphasizing that most fatal overdoses result from multiple types of drugs.
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How the Drug Works
Intriguingly, opioids like morphine, heroin, and fentanyl act within the brain's mu-opioid receptors, offering both pain relief and euphoria, albeit with drowsy consequences at high doses, The Conversation explains.
Fentanyl exceeds its counterparts, activating these receptors at remarkably lower doses. Nitazenes, on the other hand, surpasses fentanyl's potency, with N-desethyl isotonitazene rendering pain relief nearly tenfold more efficiently than fentanyl and a staggering 1,400 times more effectively than morphine, as demonstrated in a rat study.
A Global Crisis
The dire situation in Northern Ireland is not isolated. The Guardian reports that similar concerns have arisen in other parts of the United Kingdom, such as Scotland and the Midlands in England, where a sharp rise in drug overdoses and deaths prompted public health warnings earlier this year.
Alex Bunting, Group director of therapeutic and wellbeing services at Inspire in Belfast, commented on the six recent deaths, stating that they reinforce that a global synthetic drugs crisis has reached Northern Ireland.
Gary McMichael, chief executive of the charity ASCERT, which offers alcohol and drug addiction support services across Northern Ireland, has described Nitazenes as a "game changer" regarding the risk of serious harm, overdose, and death.
Addressing this crisis is paramount, with Mr. McMichael emphasizing the need for a comprehensive strategy to prevent further tragedies. Vulnerable individuals, already struggling with substance abuse, are becoming even more exposed due to funding cuts and resource limitations, creating additional stress on support systems.
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