Fake painkillers are circulating in the Netherlands, authorities warn after man dies
Counterfeit oxycodone circulating within the Netherlands poses severe well being dangers, authorities stated.
Dutch authorities are warning individuals in opposition to ordering prescription painkillers on-line after a 30-year-old man died in Amsterdam after taking counterfeit oxycodone.
The drugs had been purchased on-line with no prescription, in accordance with the Trimbos Institute, a Dutch scientific analysis company.
They didn’t include oxycodone – which is prescribed for sufferers with extreme ache – however moderately nitazenes, that are artificial opioids which might be a lot stronger than oxycodone, morphine, or fentanyl.
The medication are so potent that just a few milligrams may cause deadly respiration issues, in accordance with Trimbos. The results additionally last more, elevating the danger of an overdose.
Police in Amsterdam are nonetheless attempting to determine the place the person who died bought the faux oxycodone. However his loss of life is certainly one of a number of well being crises tied to artificial medication within the Netherlands lately.
‘Harmful to order prescribed drugs on-line’
The Dutch Well being and Youth Care Inspectorate (IGJ) stated a number of individuals have acquired emergency medical care after taking drugs that had been bought on-line as oxycodone however turned out to include nitazenes.
The medication are bought on-line and on social media, the inspectorate stated. They appear to be oxycodone and sometimes have original-looking packaging – making them “virtually indistinguishable” from the actual factor, it added.
“This reveals how harmful it’s to order prescribed drugs on-line,” IGJ chief inspector Henk de Groot stated in a press release.
“It could look actual, however you’ve gotten completely no thought what you might be shopping for”.
The warning comes amid an uptick within the availability of nitazenes and different artificial opioids in elements of Europe, in accordance with the European Union Medication Company, which described them as an “necessary rising menace”.
Trimbos urged individuals to keep away from shopping for ache treatment on-line and stated individuals ought to name for emergency assist if they start feeling unwell after taking oxycodone.
In the meantime, IGJ stated individuals can report web sites promoting prescription medicines to investigators.
“For medication, go to your physician and pharmacy,” de Groot stated.
