Nottinghamshire has declared a ‘public health emergency’ after six people died from using pure heroin.
Notts TV News understands that the deaths occurred in the space of 36 hours in Mansfield, Newark and Bassetlaw.
The Director of Public Health for the county, Chris Kenny revealed that the six heroin-related deaths in the last week were people trying to kick the habit.
He said: “We are very sad to hear of the deaths of the six drugs misusers. These were people who were under the care of our service provider crime reduction initiatives and they were taking part in a rehabilitation programme that would bring them back into normality, get them off drugs completely and back into society.”
He offered advice for heroin users.
Chris Kenny Director of Public Health, Nottinghamshire
Crime Reduction Initiatives, who are the local service provider for Drug misusers are conducting enquiries internally in a bid to gain a better understanding of the situation.
“Intelligence at the moment suggests that there may be some heroin circulating in the community that is two or three times the purity that we are used to.
Chris Kenny Director of Public Health, Nottinghamshire
Nottinghamshire Police are currently investigating the deaths and hospitals, pharmacies and GPs have been alerted and have been asked to make people aware of the danger to prevent further deaths.
“We work very closely with the police. They are very aware of the level of heroin circulating in the community,” said Mr Kenny.
“We have made sure that as many people as possible have been made aware. For example. the ambulance service and A + E departments. Everyone who needs to know.”
Public Health, Nottinghamshire have set up an emergency helpline to call at 0115 8960798.
