RED DRUG ALERT

RED ALERT-Cambridgeshire & Peterborough

FOR IMMEDIATE ATTENTION; URGENT ACTION REQUIRED

Date: 4th September, 2018 Location of Incident: Peterborough Drug of concern: Heroin Identified risk: High risk of overdoses Source of information: Police and Peterborough City Hospital Alert instigated by: Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Public Health Team

Dear all,

In the early hours of Saturday 1st September, 2018, 4 individuals (3 females and 1 male) were admitted to Peterborough hospital following a Heroin overdose.

All 4 individuals are known to be experienced heroin users. We have NO specific information about the heroin itself in terms of distinctive colour, smell etc.., but due to the high number of overdoses, within a linked time period, we have concerns regarding potential contamination.

Please make service users aware of the following harm reduction advice
 Dosage is very easy to get wrong and the biggest risk from opiate use is overdose.  Smoking on foil is safer than injecting or snorting  Do not mix with other Central Nervous System (CNS) depressants (eg alcohol, benzodiazepines)  Make sure you are in a safe environment, with trusted people  Watch carefully for the signs of an overdose, e.g. loss of consciousness, shallow or absent breathing, “snoring”, and/or blue lips or fingertips  In the case of an overdose, immediately call for an ambulance and administer naloxone if available.

Please disseminate this alert to your peers with immediate action.

Please urge your service users to share information with services and their peers, and report any concerns to services as soon as possible.

If they are feeling unwell and suspect they have used one or more of the substances referred to in this alert message, please call an ambulance immediately.

If you have any further queries, please contact Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Public Health Team on 01223 703259

Thank you for your assistance in preventing further fatalities or harm

If Naloxone kits are required in Peterborough call Aspire on 0800 111 4354 or 01733 895 624 If Naloxone kits are required in Cambridgeshire call Inclusion on 0300 555 01 01 If you have any further queries, please contact Safer Peterborough Partnership 01733 863880 Therefore please be aware when purchasing particularly from a different source or if you are unsure test a small amount first.

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