Two Deaths in Cork Raise Alarm as HSE Investigates Dangerous Drug Overdose Cluster

Cork: Two young men tragically lost their lives recently. There are worries that more deaths could follow due to a dangerous batch of drugs in circulation.

Both men were found in different locations, with drug paraphernalia nearby. One was discovered in Fitzgerald’s Park, while the other was in an alley near North Gate Bridge.

The first man, in his 20s, had an injection kit and a pamphlet from a needle exchange service. The second man, in his 30s, was in cardiac arrest when responders arrived. Sadly, he could not be revived.

Reports say the two men were friends and had been known to local addiction support services. The HSE is now closely monitoring the situation. They plan to work with local groups to understand these overdoses better.

They’re also keeping an eye on the drug market to see if any particularly risky substances are being sold. Recent alerts mention counterfeit tablets that might contain dangerous synthetic opioids.

There’s a strong belief that a potent synthetic opioid, possibly Nitazine, is being sold on the streets of Cork. A similar situation in Dublin earlier this year saw over 40 overdoses in just two days.

In December, Cork experienced 14 overdoses in a single day. This has led to renewed calls for a supervised injection facility in the city, similar to one that opened in Dublin.

However, local agencies have been told by health authorities that Cork will have to wait at least a year to see how the Dublin facility performs.

A worker from a drug charity expressed frustration, saying it’s ridiculous to wait for results from Dublin. Evidence shows that these facilities save lives.

Former Deputy Lord Mayor Cllr Damian Boylan called the recent deaths “utterly tragic.” He believes Cork shouldn’t have to wait for proof that a facility will work.

He pointed out that the Dublin facility has already saved lives in just a few weeks. Cllr Boylan emphasized that the best time to open a facility in Cork was yesterday, and the next best time is now.

Meanwhile, local agencies are on high alert for more overdoses. They’re trying to spread the word about the severe risks of the current drug situation.

However, reaching drug users can be tough. A court case last year revealed a dealer knew he was selling dangerous synthetic heroin but continued because his phone kept ringing.

For more information on drug trends, alerts from the HSE can be found on the Drugs.ie website.