Synthetic opioids

Suppression of normal breathing, including respiratory arrest (when you stop breathing altogether) which is often fatal. If you think someone may be having an opioid overdose, call 999 immediately and start first aid. If naloxone is available, use it.

There is an antidote for these drugs called naloxone, so if you use opioids or know someone who uses them, you should be able to get naloxone for free in your area. Ask your local drug treatment service where.

Other risks include:

• Loss of consciousness and coma
• Dizziness or fainting
• Withdrawal symptoms, including nausea and retching
• Itching
• Lethargy
• Constipation

If you inject synthetic opioids you can do nasty damage to your veins and arteries, and this can lead to gangrene (death of body tissue, usually a finger, toe or a limb), blood clots/thromboses and to infections.

There are also risks from sharing needles, syringes and other equipment used for injecting – with the danger of developing serious tissue infections or spreading viral infections like hepatitis B, hepatitis C or HIV.

Other risks

There are also social harms that can develop with repeated use of synthetic opioids, especially if you become addicted. These social harms can include committing crime to afford to buy more synthetic opioids, disruption to your family life and other relationships, general poor health and social functioning including through loss of employment.

Potent synthetic opioids like fentanyls and nitazenes are most often found added to heroin, making those who use them more vulnerable to overdose.

It is possible that a synthetic opioid may be contaminated during its production and shipment or it may be mixed with another substance(s), such as sugar, starch or powdered milk, to increase its bulk and the seller’s profits.

More harmful adulterants that may be added (as they are to heroin) include paracetamol and benzodiazepines.

Xylazine, an animal tranquilliser, is also increasingly being added to opioids and can make the suppression of normal breathing much worse.

• Most synthetic opioids are Class A, which means it's illegal to have for yourself, give away or sell.

• Possession can get you up to 7 years in prison, an unlimited fine or both.

• Supplying someone else, even your friends, can get you life in prison, an unlimited fine or both.