Nitazene Test Strips

Test strips are being given out by services in the Lancashire area.

• Test strips may detect any Nitazenes added to a bag of Heroin or other drugs
  
• Another test strip may detect Fentanyl and another Xylazine.
  
• Test strips are a good indication that your drugs have been cut with these dangerous adulterants.
  
• However, test strips are not 100% reliable, so false positives or negatives are possible.
  
  
  
  
  Test strips used recently on heroin and crack in the Leyland area have been positive for Nitazenes. There has also been a rise in overdose incidents.
  
  
• Nitazenes and Fentanyl are synthetic opioids,while Xylazine is a sedative used by vets on large animals.
  
• Over 200 people have died in the last year after Heroin, Oxycodone, Diazepam (Valium) and other street drugs have been adulterated with Nitazenes. Others have died from drugs adulterated with Xylazine.
  
• 
  Naloxone is an antidote to an opioid overdose.
  Naloxone works on Nitazenes and Fentanyl
  
  
• Naloxone may not work on Xylazine, but should be used if someone has overdosed as they may have also taken Heroin, Methadone or other opioids
  
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  Staying Safe
  
  
• Don’t use alone.Take it in turns to look after each other
  
• Using Diazepam or Pregabalin at the same time increases risk
  
• Smoking Heroin is safer than injecting. Take a small test dose from any new bag.
  
• 
  Ask your drug treatment service about getting Naloxone and test strips.
  Your local service can also offer rapid access to opioid medication treatment
  
  
  Refer Someone
• Watch out for signs of an overdose in friends
  
• Make sure you have Naloxone and be prepared to use it - you may have to use more than one dose
  
• After using Naloxone - Ring for an ambulance as Naloxone will wear off.
  
• Use test strips on any new bag of Heroin or other drugs
  
• Let your drug treatment service know of any positive results