The 10 suspected overdoses by people at Portlaoise Prison have been linked to a synthetic opioid known as nitazene.
A number of prisoners were taken to hospital by ambulance on Tuesday while others received treatment at the prison.
The Irish Prison Service (IPS) said it was “working closely” with the HSE in response to a number of overdose presentations in custody.
Nitazene was also linked to a cluster of heroin overdoses in Dublin in November 2023, with traces of the opioid found in batches of heroin.
What is nitazene?
Nitazenes are a group of compounds developed in the 1950s as opioid analgesics (medications for pain relief), but they were never approved to market. Researchers had hoped they would provide an alternative to morphine.
They are not well known outside of academic research laboratories, and regarded as highly dangerous.
Nitazenes have been linked to thousands of opioid overdoses in the United States.
What impact have nitazene had in Ireland?
Speaking at a Garda briefing following the overdoses in Portlaoise, Detective Chief Superintendent Seamus Boland said that nitazene had caused “very significant incidents” and been responsible for “multiple overdoses”.
Asked whether they were liaising with the Irish Prison Service in relation to Portlaoise Prison, he said: “Yes, an Garda Síochána is working, has been working, continues to work very close with the Irish Prison Service in relation to that matter and all other matters.”
He added: “There are and have been very, very high-level meetings that have been taking place over a protracted period in relation to difficulties that are being experienced.
“The issues in Portlaoise Prison yesterday feedback into the dangers of the synthetic opioids and these synthetic opioids that are actually available and have been causing similar problems all across Ireland since late last November.
“Now, I make that comment in advance of knowing what is the exact cause of that, but I think an informed opinion would say that it’s probably going to turn out to be something like a synthetic opioid.”
HSE advice to drug users
The HSE asks people who use drugs to follow harm reduction steps, which can help reduce the harm if they are using substances.
Avoid new batches of heroin: Avoid buying from new suppliers and avoid trying new batches or new types of drugs. This brings unknown risks.
Access Naloxone: Talk to your local service or doctor about accessing naloxone as soon as you can. Avoid using alone and make a rescue plan, and let someone know you are using and where.
Test the dose: Start low and go very slow, there is an increased risk of overdose at this time. Avoid using other drugs, including methadone, benzodiazepines or alcohol.
Get medical help immediately: Look out for the signs of overdose and don’t be afraid to get medical help if someone is unwell. Stay with the person until help comes.
What other opioids are a risk?
There has been no laboratory analytical confirmation of fentanyl being detected recently in Ireland.
However, officials are concerned about fentanyl, which has played a huge role in the opioid epidemic in the United States.
It was discussed at the Citizens’ Assembly on Drugs.
Fentanyl is a highly potent synthetic piperidine opioid primarily used as an analgesic. It is 20 to 40 times more potent than heroin and 100 times more potent than morphine; its primary clinical utility is in pain management for cancer patients and those recovering from painful surgeries.
For this reason, it is extremely dangerous and lethal when mixed with drugs like heroin.
