AN addiction professional has urged people against using the killer drug Fentanyl which has claimed its very victim in Fermanagh.
Fentanyl is an opioid that can be up to 50 times stronger than heroin. It has already claimed hundreds of thousands of lives in the USA, where its effects have devastated entire communities.
Sadly, the epidemic appears to be spreading and just last week, the Herald reported that we have had our first Fentanyl death in Fermanagh.
Recently police were called to a house in the Coleshill area of Enniskillen where they found the body of a man who a post mortem subsequently confirmed had died of the lethal painkiller.
It also is believed that the killer drug may have been linked to others drug related deaths in the North, and just two milligrams of the substance can prove fatal.
Aidan Ormsby from Solace, an addiction service at ARC Healthy Living Centre in Irvinestown has warned local people of the consequences of using the drug.
“Fentanyl has become available in Northern Ireland where substance misuse continues to cause harm in our communities.
“While it may not be widespread, it is extremely potent, and may be mixed in with another substance.
“Unofficial figures suggest that Fentanyl is suspected as being involved in up to six deaths so far in 2019, while other drugs were also present in some cases.
“Poly-drug [mixing drugs] misuse is extremely dangerous and is the cause of a growing number of drug deaths. Mixing alcohol and other substances also heightens the risk of overdose and death.
“It is vital that we become aware and informed of the risks associated with substance misuse so that we can attempt to reduce harm and stay safer,” said Mr Ormsby.
Fentanyl, a very strong opioid drug, produces an intense short term high, temporary feelings of euphoria and can slow respiration and reduced blood pressure causing fainting, seizures and death.
If you feel you would like to talk to someone about substance misuse please contact SOLACE in the ARC Healthy Living Centre on 68628741 and our team of highly trained harm reduction support staff will be ready and willing to help.
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