By Gavin Mackintosh-
Essex Police has contacted drug addicts in the area to warn them of a bad batch of heroine following the deaths of handful of addicts in the area.
Reports suggest that dealers operating in the notorious drug-infested corners of Southend have been substituting heroin with the potent synthetic opioid fentanyl, leading to a lethal outcome for unsuspecting users.
There have also been a number of deaths arising from drug overdose in the area in the past few weeks
Don Bonnson, a user from the area told The Eye Of Media.Com: ‘I’ve lost 11 people I knew in the past three weeks, which is nearly half of those who have died from heroine.
In light of the dangerous substances circulating in the area. The substitution of heroin with fentanyl, a substance significantly more potent and lethal, has escalated concerns among authorities and health professionals.
Southend, known for its picturesque coastline and vibrant community, has long battled with drug-related issues.
Over the past few years, the area has witnessed a concerning rise in drug-related deaths, further exacerbating the ongoing public health crisis.
The recent spike in fatalities highlights the persistent challenges faced by authorities in tackling drug abuse and trafficking in the region.
Essex Police have issued urgent warnings to drug addicts, urging them to exercise extreme caution.
A source from Essex police told this publication that they had identified users from the phones seized from drug dealers and warned them for their own safety to be aware of the increased risk associated with their habit in light of the circulating bad batch.
The devastating impact of tainted heroin has sent shockwaves through the Southend community, prompting calls for urgent action to combat drug-related harm.
A spokesperson from Essex Police told The Eye Of Media.Com: ‘We’re aware of a small number deaths in south Essex which we are working with public health experts on to fully understand.
‘Illegal opioids such as heroin pose an immense risk to the lives of users. An additional 15 of these synthetic opioids were added as Class As to the Misuse of Drugs Act in March 2024.
‘These are uncontrolled substances – it is impossible to know how strong, how dangerous or how deadly they could be, and what else may be contained in them. They are even more likely to be fatal if contaminated with synthetic opioids such as fentanyl or nitazenes.
.The National Crime Agency (NCA) has already linked more than 100 deaths to nitazenes nationwide since the summer of 2023, and any death from a drugs overdose is one too many.
‘By fuelling the harmful cycle of crime and drug addiction, the dealers of these drugs repeatedly show they are happy to devastate lives for profit.
‘We work closely with the NCA to disrupt this cycle in Essex and protect our communities from the damage caused by these drugs.
‘We strongly advise those struggling with heroin and opioid use reach out for the help available from the charities and healthcare partners across our county.
• Open Road are a charity offering specialist drug recovery support services across most of Essex, Monday-Friday, 9am-5.30pm. Call 0844 499 1323, email info@openroad.org.uk, or use a live web chat on www.openroad.org.uk.
• Over 18s in Southend can contact Southend Treatment and Recovery Service (STARS), Monday-Friday, 9.30am-4.30pm, and until 8pm on Tuesdays. Call 01702431889 or email Southend.Referrals@ForwardTrust.Org.Uk.
• Over 18s in Thurrock can contact Inclusion Visions, Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm. Call 0300 303 1018, email Visions@mpft.nhs.uk, or make an online referral: https://www.visions.inclusionthurrock.org/online-referral/.
• Find all the support services we recommend on our website: https://www.essex.police.uk/police-forces/essex-police/areas/essex-police/au/about-us/referral-services/