The Irish Prison Service issued an urgent drug alert to all prisons following analysis conducted by the HSE National Drug Treatment Centre Laboratory which confirmed the presence of a nitazene type substance, associated with overdoses in Irish prisons, one of which is fatal.

The Irish Prison Service is working closely with the HSE in response to this detection of Nitazene. Prison healthcare teams have adequate stocks of naloxone should clinical intervention be required. Extra vigilance is being taken across the prison estate and the Irish Prison Service has commenced an information campaign for prisoners around the dangers of consuming non prescribed illegal drugs.