Killoran, Sarah, McNamara, Sinéad ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6537-0721, Kavanagh, Pierce
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1613-3305, O'Brien, John and Lakes, Rodney
(2025)
Identification of N-pyrrolidino protonitazene in powders sold as heroin and associated with overdose clusters in Dublin and Cork, Ireland.
Drug Testing and Analysis,
17,
(3),
pp. 350-357.
https://doi.org/10.1002/dta.3707.
Synthetic opioids have been associated globally with adverse effects in drug users. The nitazene group of drugs is a relatively new addition to the synthetic opioid class emerging in Europe in 2019. Some nitazenes have been shown to be more potent than fentanyl. Overdose clusters in heroin users in Dublin (57 cases) and Cork (20 cases), Ireland, in November and December 2023, respectively, prompted a rapid response from a number of Irish laboratories to identify the substance(s) of concern. Light brown (tan) powders were obtained from cases associated with overdoses, and the results from these analyses by collaboration of four laboratories are reported here. The samples were found to contain N-pyrrolidino protonitazene (protonitazepyne), caffeine, paracetamol, benzoic acid and mannitol.
B Substances > New (novel) psychoactive substances > Synthetic opioids > Benzimidazole, Nitazenes, Brorphine
E Concepts in biomedical areas > Pharmacology and toxicology > Purity / adulterant
G Health and disease > Substance use disorder (addiction) > Drug use disorder > Drug intoxication > Poisoning (overdose)
J Health care, prevention, harm reduction and treatment > Identification and screening > Identification and screening for substance use > Drug checking / testing service
VA Geographic area > Europe > Ireland > Cork
VA Geographic area > Europe > Ireland > Dublin
Click here to request a copy of this literature
Repository Staff Only: item control page