UK Fails to Account for Hundreds of Synthetic Opioid-Related Deaths Due to Underreporting, Researchers Warn
A recent study published by researchers at King's College London has revealed that the UK may have underreported synthetic opioid-related deaths by up to 33%. The study found that toxicologists often struggle to detect nitazenes, a class of synthetic opioids that are hundreds of times stronger than heroin, in postmortem blood samples.
According to experts, the true number of deaths caused by these potent substances could be significantly higher due to concerns over underreporting. Nitazenes were originally developed as painkillers in the 1950s but their extreme potency led to a halt in their development due to addiction risks.
The National Crime Agency (NCA) previously reported that 333 fatalities in the UK were linked to nitazenes, but researchers believe this number may be an underestimate. By analyzing data from the UK National Programme on Substance Use Mortality and applying modelling techniques, the study found that an excess of drug deaths occurred in Birmingham in 2023, with a third more cases than reported.
The study's lead author, Dr Caroline Copeland, warned that if nitazenes are degrading in postmortem blood samples, it means that nearly all the true number of deaths are being missed. This leads to inaccurate data used to inform harm reduction strategies, ultimately resulting in preventable deaths.
As synthetic opioids continue to pose a growing public health concern, experts like Mike Trace, chief executive of the Forward Trust, have called for increased action from governments to tackle these deadly substances. With over 17,000 annual deaths related to drugs and alcohol, the call for comprehensive measures remains pressing.
Border Force has taken steps to combat this issue by training dogs to detect fentanyl and nitazenes, but more needs to be done to accurately measure the true scope of synthetic opioid-related deaths in the UK.
A recent study published by researchers at King's College London has revealed that the UK may have underreported synthetic opioid-related deaths by up to 33%. The study found that toxicologists often struggle to detect nitazenes, a class of synthetic opioids that are hundreds of times stronger than heroin, in postmortem blood samples.
According to experts, the true number of deaths caused by these potent substances could be significantly higher due to concerns over underreporting. Nitazenes were originally developed as painkillers in the 1950s but their extreme potency led to a halt in their development due to addiction risks.
The National Crime Agency (NCA) previously reported that 333 fatalities in the UK were linked to nitazenes, but researchers believe this number may be an underestimate. By analyzing data from the UK National Programme on Substance Use Mortality and applying modelling techniques, the study found that an excess of drug deaths occurred in Birmingham in 2023, with a third more cases than reported.
The study's lead author, Dr Caroline Copeland, warned that if nitazenes are degrading in postmortem blood samples, it means that nearly all the true number of deaths are being missed. This leads to inaccurate data used to inform harm reduction strategies, ultimately resulting in preventable deaths.
As synthetic opioids continue to pose a growing public health concern, experts like Mike Trace, chief executive of the Forward Trust, have called for increased action from governments to tackle these deadly substances. With over 17,000 annual deaths related to drugs and alcohol, the call for comprehensive measures remains pressing.
Border Force has taken steps to combat this issue by training dogs to detect fentanyl and nitazenes, but more needs to be done to accurately measure the true scope of synthetic opioid-related deaths in the UK.
like what's even more scary is that the cops might not know how many people died from them because they can't detect them properly 
and now we're talking about 33% underreporting lol that's wild. and it makes sense that experts are saying more needs to be done, i mean we can't just ignore this issue and hope it goes away 
has anyone heard of nitazenes before? sounds like some crazy stuff.
their numbers are prob based on reports from toxicologists which might not always be 100% accurate 
and like, what's the point of underreporting anyway? 
doesn't mean it'll change anything in reality 
we just need more funding for research & better detection methods 
not just relying on dogs to sniff out nitazenes 
like seriously we cant even get an accurate count of how many people are dying from these things and its not just about the numbers it's about taking action to prevent more deaths 
the fact that experts think the real number could be 33% higher is insane 
I'm so concerned about this report. It's crazy that we're still seeing hundreds of deaths related to synthetic opioids, yet the actual number could be tripled due to underreporting 
. This is a clear example of how our system fails people who need help the most. We need more action from governments and authorities to tackle this issue head-on 
. Trained dogs detecting fentanyl and nitazenes are a good start, but we need more comprehensive measures in place, like increased funding for addiction services and harm reduction programs 
. It's heartbreaking to think that nearly all the true number of deaths are being missed because toxicologists struggle to detect these potent substances 
. We need to do better for our communities 
.
. I mean, can't they use more advanced testing methods or something? It's not like it's rocket science 
. And what really grinds my gears is that this could lead to inaccurate data being used to inform harm reduction strategies, ultimately resulting in preventable deaths 
. Like, why can't we just get it together?! The government needs to step up and take action ASAP 
. I mean, 17,000 annual deaths related to drugs and alcohol? That's just heartbreaking 
. We need more support, not less 
what's the point of having a program if its just gonna be based on half the truth?? we need more research, more funding, and more awareness 
What do you guys think?
But seriously, 33% underreporting is no joke. Imagine if we thought the real number of deaths was, say, 1000 instead of 333. It's like, what else are they not telling us? 
did u know that fentanyl-related deaths are killing 17k people per year in the UK? 
