NEWS RELEASE
Drug services issue urgent overdose warning
Rachael Powell – Communication Officer
01803 841577
24 April 2007
Six suspected heroin overdoses have occurred in the past 48 hours across Devon and Cornwall. Five
individuals who are from Torquay, Dartmouth, Ilfracombe, Tiverton and Penzance have died. Another
suspected overdose in Plymouth was successfully treated by medical staff and a man has made a full
recovery.
Devon & Cornwall Police are working jointly with local Drug and Alcohol Action Teams to ascertain if there are
any unusual circumstances behind these deaths or if they are an unfortunate random cluster.
Sue Blackford, Devon and Cornwall Police Force Intelligence lead for drugs stated;
“The claim that these deaths are due to a contaminated or unusually ‘pure’ batch of illegal heroin is entirely
unfounded. We cannot make this assumption and are fast tracking the toxicology reports regarding all of
these deaths in order that we can investigate them as a priority. We work closely with our colleagues in Drug
Action Teams and brought this cluster of deaths to their attention as it is unusual for so many to occur in such
a short period of time.”
Local drug services are warning heroin users to be extra vigilant of overdose risks. Helen Wilks, Harm
Reduction Co-ordinator at Safer Communities Torbay said:
“The vast majority of heroin overdoses are not due to an unusual drug supply, but due to people using a
mixture of drugs at the same time, for example heroin, alcohol or sleeping tablets. Another common reason
for heroin overdose is when people’s bodies are not tolerant to the drug, either because they are
inexperienced users or have recently come out of prison/detox centres and have been drug free”.
Heroin users are urged to dial 999 and ask for an ambulance immediately if they witness anyone overdosing or
becoming seriously ill from using drugs. Helen Wilks added;
“All local paramedic crews are trained to deal with drug overdose and carry on board the necessary medication
to reverse heroin overdose. Heroin overdose is almost always treatable, provided that people get emergency
medical help. Sadly, many people die from heroin overdose simply because they did not receive medical
treatment in time.”
The following overdose prevention advice has been issued to heroin users by Devon and Cornwall drug
services:
Working with you for you
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Make sure someone is around when you use heroin (if you overdose alone, nobody can help)
Avoid injecting heroin (you’re more likely to overdose if you inject).
Avoid using heroin with other drugs.
If you’ve just come out of prison, detox or rehab, use heroin in very small amounts (your body won’t be
used to heroin).
Use heroin in smaller amounts, especially if your supply seems different (but remember you can’t tell
what’s in it by looking it).
The best advice is to, wherever possible, to avoid using heroin completely.
Anyone who is concerned about drug use can call the national drugs helpline; “Talk to Frank” on 0800 776600
in confidence. This helpline can also signpost individuals to their local drug treatment service.