462. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Health what steps he is taking to ensure the safety of opioid drug users, given the reported deaths due to a highly potent synthetic opioid; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Hildegarde Naughton, Minister of State at the Department of Health: There has been a total number of 57 reported overdose presentations since November 10, with a decline in the number of incidents in recent days. The overdoses are associated with use of heroin adulterated by nitazenes, a potent synthetic opioid.

The HSE issued a number of risk communications containing harm reduction steps to help reduce risk for those using drugs. The HSE is advising people who use drugs to avoid new batches of heroin, to be extra vigilant, and to access Naloxone.

Naloxone is widely available and is free of charge from drug services and homeless services in the Dublin region. Over 3,800 units have been distributed in 2023 and 1,300 have been trained in administration of naloxone. Additional Naloxone supplies are available from the HSE where required.

In many cases, Naloxone was administered prior to medical services arriving, highlighting the effectiveness of the programme. Naloxone temporarily reverses the effects of opiate-type drugs like heroin, keeping the person alive until emergency services arrive.

As Minister with responsibility for the national drugs strategy, I appreciate the efforts of the HSE, community drug and homeless services, hospital Emergency Departments and the Dublin Fire Brigade for their swift response to the recent situation. This collective effort has greatly minimised the harms from the use of adulterated heroin.

The emergence of synthetic opioids is monitored closely by the EU Drugs Agency. Ireland supports this mechanism through the Early Warning and Emerging Trends network (EWET), which has representatives from the Department of Health, the Department of Justice, An Garda Síochána, the Irish Prison Service, the Health Research Board, the HSE, several national laboratories, and civil society representatives.

I am committed to developing integrated care pathways and harm reduction responses for high-risk drug users so as to achieve better health outcomes and to reduce drug overdoses.