Fifth suspected drugs arrest after two deaths and nine hospitalised in major incident
Greatest Hits Radio has been looking into the scale of drugs use in Devon where there's almost 900 people currently getting treatment for Opioids use
Last updated 29th Apr 2024
There's calls for Devon to offer routine drugs testing - following a major incident at the weekend which saw two deaths and nine people being taken to hospital.
Five people remain on bail as tests continue on a suspected strong batch of heroin, which may have been mixed with even stronger synthetic drugs.
A man in his 30s from Westward Ho! died as a result of taking the substance on Friday and a second man in his 40s, from South Molton, who had earlier been admitted to hospital, died late on Saturday – believed to be as a result of taking the same substance.
Two men and two women were arrested on suspicion of being involved in the supply of a controlled substance on Saturday and a fifth person, a man, was arrested on the same grounds on Sunday. All five have now been released on police bail pending further enquiries.
Greatest Hits Radio has learnt there's 874 people in structured treatment for opiates in Devon - as drug use nationally remains at record levels - with 1196 people in active structured treatment for drugs and alcohol.
In January the UK's first regular drug-testing service opened in Bristol, which issued an alert at the weekend about the strength of drugs it was seeing.
Martin Powell from the city's Transform Drugs Police Foundation research group says a new approach is needed to tackling the growing use of drugs - and in particular what they call the 'stronger and more profitable drugs that can be more easily imported' which the UK is starting to see
He said: "What we're saying is we need a major shift towards a public health led approach to drugs - one that looks at how you get to keep people alive in the fist instance and then how, when they're ready, you give them the support to move them on into treatment and other services."
Jon Findlay, from the Humankind charity, which helps runs drug support services across Devon, says a range of support is on offer locally.
He said: "Lots of drugs are changing and we need to now assume that when people buy heroin it could well be something else - and to have a plan around who would know if you were going to overdose and how would anybody find you.
"It is really sad when anybody passes away from a preventable drug-related death. That's somebody's mum or dad, or brother or sister, loved one or best friend. Everybody is connected in some way."
Humankind give out something called Naloxone which can be inhaled or injected after an overdose - and want more friends and family to learn how to use it.
He said: "Naloxone is a medicine that temporarily reverses the effects of an opioid and it buys that person really valuable time whilst an ambulance is on the way. It's really really easy to administer."
North and West Devon local policing area commander Superintendent Toby Davies said: “We continue to investigate the circumstances around the deaths of the two men and the others who were admitted to hospital, as a result of taking this substance.
“We believe there is no wider threat to the community and that the substance found on Friday has been contained.
“Tests continue to be carried out to ascertain what the substance is, but it is suspected that it is a substance which users will find causes more serious effects than heroin which they might usually use.
“Health partners are continuing to work with local drug users in a bid to safeguard them as much as possible, but we would continue to urge any users to exercise extreme caution.
“Advice remains that if you feel you are suffering an adverse reaction or are in the company of someone in a need of urgent medical attention, call 999 for appropriate care and help.”