HSE alert after heroin deaths in Cork

People Presenting to Emergency Department in Cork affected by a suspected strong batch of heroin.

The HSE South has become aware of a number of people presenting to the Emergency Department in Cork in the last 24 hours who have required medical treatment/intervention as a possible result of taking heroin.

While investigations are ongoing into these cases, it is believed that it possible that they are as a result of a strong batch of heroin which may be in circulation.

The HSE South has alerted medical professionals in the region to be alert for patients presenting as a result of heroin misuse. Community and voluntary groups working with drug users have also been alerted and Gardaí are aware of the matter.

Health professionals are reminded to be vigilant and the public are advised that taking drugs carries serious health risks.

It is important that anyone displaying negative side effects following the use of drugs seek medical help immediately.

David Lane, HSE South Addiction Services said that “there are practical steps that drug users can take to prevent overdose as follows:

• Understand your tolerance and be aware of when it might be lower
  (e.g. when you have not been using for a while)
• Avoid mixing drugs and mixing drugs with alcohol
• Recognise that medications prescribed by a doctor may interact
  with street drugs and cause an overdose
• Injecting drugs increases your risk of overdose
• Injecting drugs is always a risk but can be even more so with an
  unfamiliar supply source.”

If someone gets into difficulty after consuming a substance it is critically important to get help immediately by calling the emergency services.

Source: HSE