⚠ IMPORTANT UPDATE – 24 April 2026 ⚠

We have now received confirmed information from Merseyside Police that the overdoses reported in Southport are linked to the same batch of heroin. Forensic testing has identified that this batch contains etonitazene, a synthetic opioid from the nitazene family.

Nitazenes are significantly more potent than heroin or morphine. Even a very small amount can cause rapid and life-threatening respiratory depression – meaning breathing can slow or stop with very little warning. National surveillance data has highlighted a growing number of drug-related deaths linked to nitazenes, often found in heroin supply without the person knowing.

This changes the risk level significantly. Please read the full alert below and share it as widely as you can.

Quick Read – three key points:

Forensic testing has confirmed that heroin linked to a series of overdoses in Southport– including one death – contains etonitazene, a nitazene synthetic opioid that is significantly more potent than heroin or morphine
Nitazenes can cause fatal respiratory depression at very low doses and you cannot tell from the appearance of heroin whether it is contaminated – treat all current supply as potentially dangerous. Testing kits are available from all hubs
Get naloxone, carry it, and call 999 immediately if someone overdoses – more than one dose may be needed – free kits are available from any Wirral Ways hub

What has been reported?

Our partners in Sefton have shared information about a number of serious overdoses in the Southport area since 13 April 2026. Five individuals have been affected across four separate incidents, and one person has died. Our thoughts are with everyone affected.

Forensic testing has now confirmed that the heroin involved in these incidents contains etonitazene, a nitazene – a class of synthetic opioid that is significantly more potent than heroin or morphine.

We are sharing this alert because what is circulating in neighbouring areas can reach Wirral quickly. We are urging everyone in Wirral who uses drugs, and everyone who supports people who do, to take extra precautions right now.

When did this happen?

The incidents occurred between 13 April and the date of this alert. This information was originally shared with us by our partners in Sefton on 23 April 2026. Confirmation of the substance involved was received from Merseyside Police on 24 April 2026.

Where did this occur?

The incidents took place in the Southport area of Sefton. No confirmed cases have been reported in Wirral at this time, but given the proximity we are treating this as a local concern.

What we know

Forensic testing has now confirmed that the heroin linked to these incidents contains etonitazene, a synthetic opioid from the nitazene family. Nitazenes are many times more potent than heroin or morphine, and even a very small amount can cause fatal respiratory depression with little or no warning.

Here is what has been reported:

Four overdose incidents involving five people have occurred in Southport since 13 April
One person has died. Forensic testing has confirmed the heroin involved contains etonitazene (synthetic opiates)
Two people overdosed in the town centre, both believed to have used the same batch of what they thought was heroin
Two further individuals, both currently receiving opioid substitution therapy, reported smoking what they believed to be heroin and experiencing immediate and intense sedation
The substances have been described as varying in colour, from pale to dark reddish
The only repeated detail across incidents is that people felt instant sedation as soon as the substance was smoked
You cannot tell from the appearance of heroin whether it contains nitazenes or any other contaminant

Why is this concerning?

Etonitazene belongs to the nitazene family of synthetic opioids. Nitazenes are significantly more potent than heroin or morphine, and national surveillance data from the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities and the UK Health Security Agency has linked nitazenes to a growing number of drug-related deaths across the UK, most often where heroin supply has been contaminated without the person’s knowledge.

The risk here is that people may have no idea their supply contains anything other than heroin. A dose that would normally be manageable can cause fatal respiratory depression – breathing slowing or stopping completely – within minutes. Standard doses of naloxone may need to be repeated, as the potency of nitazenes can outlast a single dose.

Until confirmed otherwise, everyone who uses heroin or opioids in Wirral should treat their current supply as potentially contaminated.

Harm Reduction Advice

Drug supplies change, best test first

What you buy is not always what it’s sold as, and strength varies a lot.
Start with a small test dose first.

Naloxone: get it, carry it, use it

Naloxone does not work on ketamine or cocaine, but it does work if opioids are also involved.
As the drug supply is unpredictable, it is still vital to carry it.
If someone collapses, give naloxone and call an ambulance.

Do not use alone

Always try to use with people you trust. If something goes wrong, someone needs to spot the signs and call for help.

Recovery position saves lives

While waiting for help:

Check they are breathing
Clear their airway
Put them in the recovery position

Look out for your mates

Signs of overdose include:

Loss of consciousness
Snoring, gurgling, or raspy breathing
Very slow, shallow, or stopped breathing
Blue or pale lips or fingertips

If in doubt, call 999 immediately.

Consider drug support

Being in treatment reduces the risk of overdose and gives you access to ongoing health support.

Drug checking and testing strips

Wirral Ways offers free drug checking resources, including:

Medetomidine and xylazine testing strips
These detect powerful sedatives increasingly found in the drug supply. They can cause profound sedation, slowed breathing, and loss of consciousness, particularly when mixed with other substances.
Nitazene testing strips
Nitazenes are extremely strong synthetic opioids. Even very small amounts can significantly increase the risk of overdose and may be present without a person’s knowledge.

Testing strips cannot make drug use safe, but they can support informed decision-making and harm reduction.

For professionals, partners and people supporting those who use drugs — please be alert to:

- Clients or service users presenting with sudden or unusually severe sedation after using heroin or what they believe to be heroin
- Overdose presentations that do not respond to a single dose of naloxone – repeat doses may be needed with nitazene-related overdoses
- Individuals who may be unaware of the current risk, particularly those not currently open to services
- Any reports of unusually potent or strange-looking heroin in the Wirral area
- Any new overdose presentations that may be linked to a shared batch
If you become aware of relevant information, please share it with your local partners and report it via appropriate channels.

For people who use drugs — to reduce your risk:

Use less than usual. Start with a much smaller amount than normal – nitazenes can cause overdose at doses far smaller than you would expect
Test your drugs by collecting a nitazene testing kit from any of our hubs
Do not use alone. If something goes wrong, you need someone there who can call for help and give naloxone
Call 999 immediately if someone becomes unresponsive or sedated and cannot be woken. You will not get in trouble for doing this
Be aware that with nitazene-related overdoses, more than one dose of naloxone may be needed. Keep giving doses if there is no response and you have them available
Avoid mixing drugs, including alcohol, which increases the risk of a severe reaction

Key Reminders

Naloxone reverses opioid overdose and can save a life. If you use opioids, or you are around people who do, please carry it. You can get a free naloxone kit from any of our hubs — no appointment needed. Find out more about naloxone and our hub opening times here.

With nitazene-related overdoses, more than one dose of naloxone may be needed. If you give a dose and there is no improvement within two to three minutes, give another dose if you have one and keep waiting for the ambulance.

Always call 999 in an emergency. Naloxone buys time — it is not a substitute for medical help.

If you hear of contaminated drugs, bad reactions, or positive test strip results

Please report this to Wirral Ways as soon as possible so we can help keep people safe.

Make an anonymous report

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