Police issued a warning today about a highly toxic batch of drugs containing a synthetic opioid similar to fentanyl following the deaths of two people. A man and a woman in their 40s died in Basildon, Essex in an incident described as "drug-related".
Officers discovered a harmful synthetic opioid, known as etonitazene, at the scene which could pose a high risk to anyone using it or handling it. Etonitazene - known on the street as 'Pyro' - has a similar or higher toxicity to fentanyl and is added to illicit drugs like heroin to enhance the potency.
Synthetic opioids can substantially increase the risk of respiratory arrest in users and Essex police said they were working hard to "prevent any further deaths."
