The HSE has renewed “ongoing concern” about a strong synthetic opioid being sold as heroin in Dublin and Cork. 

The health service warned N-Pyrrolidino protonitazene, a synthetic opioid, is being sold as a “new” and “strong” type of heroin. 

It said a red alert for this drug remains in place in Dublin and Cork. 

According to the HSE, N-Pyrrolidino protonitazene is a nitazene drug that can cause overdoses, hospitalisations and drug-related deaths. 

Overdoses are reportedly linked to a light brown powder containing the nitazene drug. 

We have on-going concern for N-Pyrrolidino protonitazene being sold on the Dublin and Cork markets to those who use heroin. There is a high risk for people who use heroin at this time. These substances may appear sporadically and unexpectedly.https://t.co/7a4iRZqUw3 pic.twitter.com/68oPUcqfaG

— HSE Drugs.ie (@drugsdotie) January 12, 2024

While advising people against taking drugs, the HSE warned anyone who buys heroin to not buy new types of drugs or batches and to not buy from new sources. 

Users are also advised against using more than one drug at the same time and encouraged to seek medical help immediately if they feel they are overdosing. 

The HSE also advised that people carry nalaxone, a medicine that blocks the effects of opioids and reduces overdoses. 

Emergency services have been advised to carry additional doses of nalaxone to treat synthetic opioid overdoses. 

The red alert for synthetic opioids being sold as heroin in Dublin and Cork has been in place since December 15th, 2023.

A Irish National Red Alert Group was formed to monitor the increased use of the drug and respond to future outbreaks. 

The HSE also warned there is a risk N-Pyrrolidino protonitazene in heroin will emerge in other counties. 

It previously estimated 20 overdoses may occur in Dublin city in a single day based on emergency medical calls.