An early warning system to identify artificial opioids and different medication is being developed by ministers, in an try to stop a US-style fentanyl disaster.
It can take a look at waste water and spikes of overdoses being reported by the emergency companies to trace the presence and power of artificial medication throughout the UK in actual time.
Chris Philp, the crime and policing minister, will announce particulars in his speech on the annual convention of the UN Fee on Narcotic Medicine, in Vienna on Friday.
In The Occasions, Mr Philp mentioned the early warning system will assist Britain to keep away from a disaster on the dimensions of the one the US is experiencing. He mentioned the “public want to pay attention to the dangers”.
There may be additionally a ignorance about the truth that artificial opioids are considerably extra poisonous than better-known medication similar to heroin, he added.
He mentioned: “Sadly, some search these medication out. Simply as tragically, many don’t — and are unknowingly taking illicit medication reduce with a potent artificial opioid. Misusing medication is taking part in Russian roulette together with your life.”
Fentanyl is a type of artificial opioid which is as much as 50 occasions stronger than heroin and 100 occasions stronger than morphine.
