Terrifying new synthetic opioid 'pyro' linked to dozens of overdose deaths this year
A terrifying new drug dubbed 'pyro' has been linked to at least 28 overdose deaths this year, the Sunday Mail can reveal.
Found in street heroin, etonitazene – which can be 800 times stronger than morphine – was detected in Scotland for the first time in December.
Known by its street name, the lethal contaminant has been found in dozens of suspected drug fatalities.
In has mostly been seen in heroin, where it is believed to have been used as a cutting agent, but it has also been found in Valium-type benzodiazapene pills.
Addicts are believed to be unaware they are taking it in most cases – with reports of people overdosing almost instantly.
The lab-made substance is a synthetic nitazene opioid similar to notorious drug fentanyl, which has ravaged the US, and is often hundreds of times stronger than heroin.
One ex-drug user said he believes up to 90 per cent of heroin is being cut with deadly opioids like pyro and fentanyl.
The Glasgow dad, in his 30s, who is currently in recovery, told the Sunday Mail: 'It's going completely under the radar. It's incredibly common across the whole UK for one place to get a strong batch then a bunch of folk die, the dealers go into hiding for a bit but no one ever knows because generally families don't want to talk about it.
'So the dealers get off scot free and return when things have calmed and the cycle repeats.
'The folk still using are sitting ducks. You can OD pretty easily, especially if your tolerance is low, or nod out straight away, but the feeling is so similar [to heroin] it's hard to tell the difference.
'Most folk would just think they've got something very pure, that's what makes it dangerous.'
He told how a friend with an 'on-off' heroin habit narrowly survived an overdose from smoking a single hit.
Public Health Scotland's (PHS) latest quarterly report on drug deaths, harms and trends was published on Tuesday.
It was the first to include etonitazene in toxicology screenings. The drug was detected in a shocking 28 deaths from January to March.
But experts believe this is an underestimate because of how quickly nitazenes leave the body.
Intelligence supplied to PHS's Rapid Action Drug Alerts and Response (Radar) team reveal drugs like heroin, benzos and cocaine cut with suspected nitazenes from the central belt to the Highlands and the north-east.
Professor Andrew McAuley, a drugs expert at Glasgow Caledonian University, said nitazenes are a 'minority feature' of the drugs market but added: 'They are attracting a lot of attention because the harm associated with those drugs is much more severe than it is with other street drugs.
"We don't fully understand the breadth of nitazenes so we're not always on top of testing them.
'Etonitazene is a very good example of that as something that wasn't routinely tested for until very recently. It's difficult to know how long it's been around in the supply chain for.
'But something as strong as etonitazene, I think if it had been here in any significant volume we'd have known about in A&Es and mortuaries.
'Over the last couple of months as we've started to detect it in much more frequent volumes, you can see how quickly the harm indicators have shifted in relation to that.
'There has been a bit of a spike in naloxone administrations and a spike in drug-related deaths, all related to opioids.'
He warned the spike may be because 'the people using them are now being exposed to these very toxic adulterants'.
Reports suggest contaminated heroin sometimes has a 'red tinge' or is darker than usual, particularly when prepared for injection, but experts say colours and appearance vary.
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Nitazenes were detected in at least 170 drug deaths across Scotland since 2022. There were 312 suspected drug-related deaths between March and May, a rise of 15 per cent on the previous quarter.
Radar's testing over the period found 58 per cent of street drugs did not contain purely the intended purchase substance. Six of 25 samples purchased as heroin were laced with etonitazene.
McAuley said the ever-evolving drugs scene was like playing 'whack-a-mole' for policymakers fighting Scotland's drug death rate, which is the worst in Europe.
He said it was 'frightening', adding: 'You might have somebody who is quite an experienced user overdose almost instantly, sometimes with the needle still in their arm.
"That is squarely rooted to the toxicity and the strength of these drugs. And unfortunately the data does suggest they're becoming an increasing feature of the market.'
The rise of synthetic opioids has seen calls for services where users can test drugs.
But campaigner Annemarie Ward told the Sunday Mail last week the benefits of the facilities were 'unevidenced'. She said they shouldn't be green lit without much more investment in rehab services.
Public Health Scotland's Radar team has received reports from addicts of the rising threat of contaminated heroin.
A UK-wide study at the start of the year warned: 'Alert of heroin supplied adulterated with nitazenes in Scotland and England, with heroin being described as having a 'red tinge' and involving sudden collapse.'
A report from Lanarkshire read: 'Two reports of heroin purchased from street dealers- turned black when prepared for injection and not transparent.
'Reported as having an 'exceptionally strong opioid effect' in people with a history of injecting drug use, with one batch resulting in overdose.'
One from Glasgow said: 'Nitazene present in illicit benzos called blues, vallies or 'blue Valium' that are sold £10 a batch.
'Tested after person reported 'being floored' after taking three pills.'
An entry from north-east Scotland said: 'Intel following increase in overdoses in area… rapid onset after smoking/injecting heroin. One death confirmed positive for a nitazene.'
Testing of heroin samples in Perth 'that caused nausea and confusion' contained two types of nitazenes, including superstrong etonitazene, also known as 'pyro'.
Another report from North Lanarkshire, stated: 'Multiple overdoses at the same location after smoking a 'crumb' or granule of nitazenes.'
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