Belfast drug users warned over possible bad batch of 'benzos'

Drug users successful Belfast are being warned that medicine drugs with the thoroughfare sanction 'benzos' whitethorn beryllium laced with different unsafe chemicals.

BBC News NI understands determination person been aggregate overdoses successful caller days.

The Public Health Agency (PHA) said it has been alerted to a hazard of overdoses associated with yellowish tablets thought to beryllium benzodiazepines (benzos).

It added that the tablets whitethorn incorporate metonitazene/nitazene which tin person "damaging effects to the body".

The PHA explained that nitazenes travel nether the class of caller synthetic opioids (NSO) and tin person varying levels of potency.

"Nitazenes person been known to beryllium administered by galore routes including intravenous, oral, sublingual, nasal and vaping," its spokesperson said.

"The effects see reduced breathing, reduced bosom rate, constricted pupils, drowsiness, euphoria, nausea, itching and hazard of overdoses.

"The PHA is moving intimately with spouse organisations to enactment individuals who whitethorn beryllium affected and person provided harm simplification proposal for those who misuse drugs."

Benzodiazepines, oregon 'benzos', tin besides beryllium referred to arsenic 'blues' oregon 'yellows'.

The Northern Ireland Ambulance Service (NIAS) reportedly responded to 12 overdoses during a 24-hour play past week.

Independent Belfast City Councillor Paul McCusker said helium has heard reports of a caller summation successful overdoses successful the city.

"In conscionable 24 hours, 12 individuals overdosed with immoderate of those affected requiring CPR," Mr McCusker said.

"This is believed to beryllium linked to a beardown atrocious batch of blues and yellows which incorporate benzodiazepines and opiates," helium added.