Contaminated street drugs in UK sparks local warning

Manx addiction charity urges users to be cautious 

Drug users on the Isle of Man are being urged to take additional care after a warning about contaminated street drugs in the UK.

Motiv8 says some commonly used substances – including heroin, illicit opiate based pills and ‘Spice’ – have been mixed with synthetic opioids known as Nitazenes.

Nitazenes can be thousands of times stronger than heroin so people who use them inadvertently – even in small amounts – can be at high risk of overdose or death.

The addiction services charity says whilst it doesn’t know if they have yet reached Manx shores it wants to warn people in case they do.  

As a result Motiv8 has joined other drug services in the United Kingdom in sharing information to try and reduce potential harm.

Whilst it says it’s safest not to use drugs it's advising people who do to consider changing the way they use them in order to avoid overdose and keep themselves safe.

This includes:

• Not mixing different drugs together (including alcohol)
• Only using one drug at a time
• Not using drugs alone or letting others use them alone
• Watching out for signs of overdose including difficulty breathing, blue colouring to the lips or fingertips, unresponsiveness and limp limbs
• Carrying Naloxone which can be obtained from Motiv8 and other agencies on the Island

Anyone who is concerned, or who wants support, can contact Motiv8 on 0808 1624 627 or 999 in an emergency.