A recent surge of overdose deaths in Dublin could be because of heroin being mixed with a synthetic opioid like Fentanyl, according to an advocacy group for drug users.
Coordinator of UISCE advocacy group, Andy O’Hara, said there has been an increase in the number of overdoses in Dublin, adding: “We would suggest there is a link between that and whatever is in the supply, so whether it is mixing of some drugs, or a higher purity, or that synthetic opioids such as Fentanyl are within those drugs. It is likely.”
Mr O’Hara added, in relation to fentanyl: “Even if it (Fentanyl) is not here, we are going to have a surge of it at some point based on what is going on in Afghanistan, the fact that there has been deaths in the UK. When and if it does come, we need to be prepared and ready because we will have a massive in overdose and deaths.”
The interview follows comments made by Taoiseach Leo Varadkar in the Irish Examiner last weekend in which he warned that Ireland must prepare for a surge in Fentanyl use which could spark a rise in drug deaths and homelessness.
Mr Varadkar was speaking after it emerged that Irish American actor Angus Cloud died from an accidental drug overdose which included Fentanyl.
Mr O’Hara said that while there are no statistics available at present in relation to the number of drug-related deaths, he said: “We do know that in the last week, we have had services, service providers and people who use drugs telling us that they have seen more overdoses in the last two weeks than they have in the last six to eight months.”
He added that typically, a person would respond to two Naloxone doses following an overdose, but that there have been recent situations where people required five or more doses.
He continued: “That is a sure sign that something is up with the drugs.”
On the same programme, Minister of State Ossian Smyth said Ireland already has a “devastating heroin and crack epidemic which kills far more people per capita than in other European countries”.
He said that Ireland has a “very very serious problem with death from overdose”.
He continued that such deaths do not generate headlines or sympathy, “but really, up to 100 people dying of heroin or up to 100 people dying of overdoses a year, are completely unacceptable and we need to tackle it and we need to change the way that we deal with drug addiction.”
The topic was discussed as the Citizens Assembly on Drugs continued on Saturday.
One more sitting will take place, with the assembly set to submit its report, including recommendations, to the Oireachtas before the new year.