Health chiefs have issued a warning over opioids “thousands of times stronger than heroin”.
A spokesperson for Public Health said: “Recent testing of substances seized in the Isle of Man has identified the presence of Nitazenes, a group of potent synthetic opioids.
“Nitazenes are thousands of times stronger than heroin and if used are more likely to lead to overdose, hospitalisation and death.”
They say while it is safest not to use drugs, if you choose to please exercise caution and:
Never mix drugs – Mixing any other drug increases the risk of overdose.
Don’t use alone – look out for each other and if you think someone has overdosed, call 999 immediately and administer Naloxone if you have it.
Always carry Naloxone – Naloxone temporarily reverses the effects of an opioid overdose and saves lives. It is available in the Isle of Man to anyone who is at risk or knows someone at risk of an opioid overdose. You can find out more at www.gov.im/naloxone.
Advice and treatment for drug or alcohol dependency is available from the Drug and Alcohol Team (DAT) on 617889. DAT is a confidential service for anyone who is concerned about their drug use.
You can also contact Motiv8 on freephone 0808 1624 627 – Monday to Friday 9am-5pm for help and support.