Police warn drug users of 'highly potent' opioids

Nitazenes are known to be up to hundreds of times stronger than heroin

Police have issued a warning to drug users after "highly potent" synthetic opioids were found in drugs seized during a recent operation.

Cocaine recovered by Norfolk Police in King's Lynn was found to contain nitazenes, man-made opioids that can be hundreds of times stronger than heroin.

Synthetic opioids can pose an increased risk of overdose, and support is being offered to users through Norfolk's drug and alcohol treatment provider.

The charity Change Grow Live provides nitazene testing kits, urine screening and naloxone, a medicine that can temporarily reverse the effects of an opioid overdose.

Police have said a public health response will be initiated where synthetic opioids are believed to be the cause of a medical emergency or overdose.

Det Insp Jo Minnis said: "We prioritise any drugs lines suspected of selling drugs that contain synthetic opioids and will proactively investigate these lines to take them out and prevent overdoses."

Nitazenes can be mixed into other substances, including cocaine and counterfeit prescription tablets, often without users being aware.

The cocaine seized also revealed traces of xylazine, a powerful animal tranquilliser known as 'tranq' which can cause serious health problems when taken by humans.

Xylazine, classified as a banned substance earlier this year, has been linked to non-healing skin wounds and can increase the risk of fatal overdose.

Change Grow Live, Norfolk's drug and alcohol treatment provider, has hubs across the county in Norwich, Thetford, King's Lynn and Great Yarmouth.

Mat Armitage of the charity said: "When contaminated drugs are suspected, Change Grow Live sends out drug alerts to partner agencies to raise awareness and keep people safe."

Norfolk Police have requested anyone with information on the supply of drugs to contact the force on 101, or anonymously through Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.