Warning of 'high risk' to heroin users in Cork and Dublin  

HSE says red alert for drug n-pyrrolidino protonitazene remains in place, with heroin users at 'extreme risk' of obtaining the substance falsely termed ‘new’ or ‘strong’ heroin

 The new drug has been seen in light brown or tan form and is linked to overdoses in Dublin and Cork.

The HSE has reiterated its concern for heroin users in Cork and Dublin on foot of the arrival of a new synthetic opioid drug in the two cities.

The health service’s drugs task force said this evening that a red alert for the drug n-pyrrolidino protonitazene remains in place in the two cities, with heroin users at “extreme risk” of obtaining the substance, which is falsely being described as ‘new’ or ‘strong’ heroin.

The new drug has been seen in light brown or tan form, and has been linked to a number of overdoses in the two cities since the beginning of last month.

“There is a high risk for people who use heroin at this time,” the HSE said.

These substances may appear sporadically and unexpectedly.

A spokesperson said that users should not buy new types of drugs, new batches, or drugs from new sources at this time.

The HSE recommends that users have a safety plan in place and that they ensure access for themselves to the anti-opioid medication naloxone, which it said “could save your own or someone else’s life". 

Early in December the HSE had urged “extreme caution” among users after eight overdoses related to a new powder being sold on the heroin market in Cork were reported in less than two days.

Forensic Science Ireland (FSI) had confirmed that a trace amount of a nitazene-type substance — a synthetic opioid sold more than 60 years ago as a morphine alternative but never approved for the medical market — had been identified in a light brown powder associated with Cork city overdoses.

The HSE’s warning followed a similar one issued for the Dublin region in November after a spate of overdoses was reported there.