UK Fentanyl Deaths

The Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD) has reported that deaths caused by the drug fentanyl are on the rise in the UK, in a report published on 3rd Jan 2020.

Deaths related to Fentanyl, a synthetic opioid that is around 50 times more potent than heroin, rose from eight in 2008 to 135 in 2017. These figures will have continued to rise to the current year. The North East of England has been heavily affected by the increase in the use of Fentanyl.

The ACMD has said that the government should introduce controls to tackle the “emerging threat” the painkiller poses. The rise in deaths is said to be driven by fentanyl being added to heroin. The drug was originally designed to be a painkiller but has since entered the illegal drug market. Synthetic opioids have been linked to thousands of US deaths. Its potency means that even a small dose can be deadly. The ACMD, which advises ministers on drugs policy, said fentanyl related deaths have risen in the UK despite the fact it is an illegal Class A substance.

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