The Public Health Directorate has been made aware that a batch of heroin which has been mixed with fentanyl or other synthetic opioids is circulating in the North of England and in Northern Ireland.  It is likely that it is also circulating in the Isle of Man. 

Synthetic opioids are unusually potent and very small amounts can cause severe or fatal toxicity.  Heroin users should be extremely cautious about the sources of their drugs and should seek treatment and advice from the Drug and Alcohol Team.  Carers, family and others in contact with heroin users should be vigilant for signs of overdose (loss of consciousness, shallow or absent breathing, ‘snoring’, blue lips/fingers) and call an ambulance immediately.

We would like to encourage any users not in contact with the Drug and Alcohol Team to seek support from the team to reduce their risk of harm from street drugs. Contact details for DAT: 617889/dat@gov.im.

Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid which is used on prescription to treat severe and terminal pain.  It can also be diverted to street supply and some versions are manufactured illicitly.  It is about 100 times more potent than morphine.  Another version, carfentanyl is 4,000 to 10,000 times more potent than morphine and is used as an animal tranquilliser.

The high potency of these opioids means that if a user does not realise they are present and uses what looks like their ‘usual dose’ they are at high risk of overdose with potentially fatal consequences.