UK Death Toll from Synthetic Opioids May Be Underestimated by Up to a Third
A shocking new study suggests that hundreds more people may have died as a result of synthetic opioids, including the potent nitazene, than previously thought. The UK's National Crime Agency (NCA) had reported 333 fatalities linked to nitazenes in 2024, but researchers at King's College London believe this number could be as low as 222, a discrepancy that could have serious implications for the accuracy of drug-related mortality data.
Nitazenes are an extremely potent class of synthetic opioids, up to 500 times stronger than heroin. Originally developed as a painkiller in the 1950s, their production was halted due to their high risk of addiction. However, despite this warning, nitazene has continued to be used and has become a major public health concern.
The study's authors found that only 14% of the nitazene present at the time of overdose is still detectable in postmortem toxicology tests. This means that many deaths may have been missed, leading researchers to estimate that an excess of drug-related deaths in Birmingham in 2023 could be as high as a third due to non-detection.
"This is a major problem," said Dr Caroline Copeland, senior lecturer in pharmacology and toxicology at King's College London. "If we're not measuring the true number of deaths caused by nitazenes accurately, then our efforts to tackle this crisis are based on incomplete data. We need to be honest about the scale of the problem and work towards a solution."
The study's findings come as health experts in Scotland warn that the country faces a fresh drug deaths crisis due to highly potent synthetic opioids. The UK government has promised to take action, with a spokesperson stating that "every death from the misuse of drugs is a tragedy" and vowing to reduce drug-related deaths.
However, critics argue that more needs to be done to address the issue. Mike Trace, chief executive of the Forward Trust, said: "The extreme potency of nitazenes has clearly contributed to rising overdose and death rates amongst people who use drugs. We need more effective solutions, including increased funding for treatment programs and more robust drug testing measures."
With over 17,000 people dying from drug-related causes each year in the UK, there is a growing sense of urgency around this issue. As the true extent of the problem becomes clear, it's imperative that policymakers take bold action to tackle the crisis head-on.
A shocking new study suggests that hundreds more people may have died as a result of synthetic opioids, including the potent nitazene, than previously thought. The UK's National Crime Agency (NCA) had reported 333 fatalities linked to nitazenes in 2024, but researchers at King's College London believe this number could be as low as 222, a discrepancy that could have serious implications for the accuracy of drug-related mortality data.
Nitazenes are an extremely potent class of synthetic opioids, up to 500 times stronger than heroin. Originally developed as a painkiller in the 1950s, their production was halted due to their high risk of addiction. However, despite this warning, nitazene has continued to be used and has become a major public health concern.
The study's authors found that only 14% of the nitazene present at the time of overdose is still detectable in postmortem toxicology tests. This means that many deaths may have been missed, leading researchers to estimate that an excess of drug-related deaths in Birmingham in 2023 could be as high as a third due to non-detection.
"This is a major problem," said Dr Caroline Copeland, senior lecturer in pharmacology and toxicology at King's College London. "If we're not measuring the true number of deaths caused by nitazenes accurately, then our efforts to tackle this crisis are based on incomplete data. We need to be honest about the scale of the problem and work towards a solution."
The study's findings come as health experts in Scotland warn that the country faces a fresh drug deaths crisis due to highly potent synthetic opioids. The UK government has promised to take action, with a spokesperson stating that "every death from the misuse of drugs is a tragedy" and vowing to reduce drug-related deaths.
However, critics argue that more needs to be done to address the issue. Mike Trace, chief executive of the Forward Trust, said: "The extreme potency of nitazenes has clearly contributed to rising overdose and death rates amongst people who use drugs. We need more effective solutions, including increased funding for treatment programs and more robust drug testing measures."
With over 17,000 people dying from drug-related causes each year in the UK, there is a growing sense of urgency around this issue. As the true extent of the problem becomes clear, it's imperative that policymakers take bold action to tackle the crisis head-on.
gotta think about all these synthetic opioids and how they're just so much stronger than real stuff... can't believe we still don't have better ways to deal with this 
like what even is the point of 500 times stronger if it's just gonna kill u? 
also, why is it that only 14% of nitazene is detectable in toxicology tests? seems so easy to fudge the numbers & keep the stats low-key
. and what about treatment programs? how much funding do they really need? 
I'm seriously worried about these synthetic opioids... 500 times stronger than heroin? It's like playing with fire and expecting to win. The fact that only 14% of nitazene is detectable in postmortem toxicology tests means so many deaths are going unnoticed, it's insane! 
We need to raise awareness about synthetic opioids and get more people seeking help ASAP. The UK government needs to step up its game and provide more funding for treatment programs and drug testing measures. It's just not enough to say "we're doing something" when it comes to lives lost every year. We need concrete action now! 
i feel so bad for the families of those who are affected by this it's like, we should be doing more to help people who struggle with addiction not just throwing money at it without any real solution 
if only 14% of the stuff is even detectable in toxicology tests that's a wild swing. It's not just about the numbers tho, it's about acknowledging the scale of this crisis and taking real action to fix it 
We need more than just empty promises from the gov 
Every year we're losing 17k+ lives to drug overdoses in the UK it's time for a bold plan.
" 333 deaths might be an underestimate, who knows right? maybe it's actually more like 1000 and we're just not getting the toxicology reports back in time 
. But seriously, 200 more people dying from synthetic opioids and nobody's talking about it? sounds like a Netflix drama 
. The UK's got some serious issues to tackle here and I'm all for increased funding for treatment programs... but where's the comedy gold in that? 
, so policymakers can develop targeted solutions that actually work 
but what can be done?! 
I think the government should def increase funding for treatment programs and drug testing measures like Mike Trace said 
and also like, let's talk about harm reduction strategies and stuff 
we need more effective solutions ASAP 
And now they're saying the UK might be underestimating the death toll from synthetic opioids by up to a third? That's wild. I guess it just goes to show how easily these things can sneak up on people and do some serious damage.
this is so messed up nitazenes are literally 500 times stronger than heroin and we're still letting them be used 
it's all about prioritizing treatment over punishment we need more funding for rehab centers and support groups ASAP 
. The fact that only 14% of nitazene is detectable in toxicology tests means we're missing out on so much info 
.