Such substance tests should better protect consumers, according to the North Rhine-Westphalia Ministry of Health. It is still unclear whether this is really a trend towards more fentanyl in heroin.
The Deutsche Aidshilfe detected fentanyl in samples in Düsseldorf, Wuppertal and Münster. It offered rapid tests for the synthetic substance in 17 drug consumption rooms across the country.
Synthetic opioids are deadlier than heroin
In Münster, eight out of 296 samples were positive, in Düsseldorf seven out of 215 and in Wuppertal three out of 696. Nationwide, the hit rate was 3.6 percent. That doesn’t sound like much, but the AIDS service is very worried. “Synthetic opioids have arrived in Germany,” says Aidshilfe, summarizing the results of the federal model project.
Synthetic opioids such as fentanyl are cheap and easy to produce, are more potent than heroin, and kill much more quickly. In the USA, the substances from the chemical laboratory have almost replaced classic heroin, according to Aidshilfe. Tens of thousands of people have died as a result.
From the point of view of Aidshilfe, the current evidence in the samples could only be the beginning. The situation in Afghanistan makes things even more difficult. Experts believe that because the Taliban have banned the cultivation of opium poppies, there could be less heroin on the market. They fear that chemical substitute drugs will then play an even greater role.
Emergency medication for opioid poisoning
In addition to better information, Aidshilfe has already called for rapid tests so that consumers can recognize cutting agents. The most dangerous thing for them is when they take heroin without knowing that it also contains synthetic opioids.
The aid association also suggests issuing the emergency medication naloxone as standard to first responders such as police and emergency services. It is used for opioid poisoning.