Warning about potentially fatal opioid detected in local drugs

A WARNING has been issued about a synthetic opioid hundreds of times stronger than heroin which is believed to be circulating in drugs locally.

Shetland Alcohol and Drug Partnership (SADP) warned about nitazenes, which have been detected in heroin in Shetland, on Tuesday night.

Nitazenes are said to be potent synthetic opioids which can be hundreds of times stronger than heroin, and which have caused “numerous deaths across Scotland”.

They are at least as potent as fentanyl, and have been found in other drugs such as benzos.

SADP said that testing strips and naloxone were available from the Shetland Recovery Hub and Community Network in Lerwick’s Pitt Lane.

Naloxone is also available from the NHS substance use service at Lerwick Health Centre.

Anyone looking for more information or how to access support should visit this link.