DYFED Drug and Alcohol Service (DDAS), in partnership with Hywel Dda University Health Board, Dyfed Powys Police, National Probation Service and Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion and Pembrokeshire Local Authorities, have expressed serious concern about possible drug-related deaths in the Dyfed-Powys area, which may be the result of a batch of heroin and street synthetic opiates.

Partners are now working together on an overdose awareness campaign to be rolled out across Carmarthen, Ceredigion and Pembrokeshire at the end of May to alert service users, their families and the general public.

The campaign will run from 31st May to the 4th June and anyone can drop in to the big black recovery bus which will be parked in various locations:

• 31st May – we will be in Aberystwyth
• 1st June – Castle Square, Haverforwest
• 2nd June – ASDA car park, Pembroke Dock
•  3rd June – Station Road in Llanelli
• 4th June – Guild Hall, Carmarthen.

Campaign co-ordinator for DDAS said: “If you spot the big black bus then please drop in. They will be dispensing Naloxone kits (a life saving overdose medication), raising awareness about mixing drugs with alcohol and giving away alcohol unit wheels for people to take home with them. DDAS’s needle and syringe service and Wedinos sampling will also be on offer and they will be working alongside Terrance Higgins Trust colleagues to raise awareness of blood borne viruses as well as community dental teams to raise awareness about oral health for drug and alcohol users.”

Rowan Williams, Regional Director, Drugaid, added: “Whilst nobody wants to see people risk their lives by taking drugs, we recognise that there are a lot of individuals who misuse drugs, including heroin. Over the years we have seen far too many lives destroyed by drugs – not just the users but also their families and friends, after all drug users are also somebody’s son or daughter, mother or father.

“We are encouraging service users to utilise the Wedinos Sampling Testing Service, who collect samples of unknown and unidentified substances for testing and then analyse these for their chemical profile. Often, people are taking a mixture of substances that is different to what they think they have purchased. Service users can contact DDAS on 03303 639 997 or drop in to one of our operational bases across Dyfed for harm reduction advice or support in submitting a Wedinos sample.”

Sian Roberts, Service Manager for DDAS wants to urge professionals from all sectors who come into contact with drug users to get in touch for a 20 minute training workshop on Naloxone.

She said: “Naloxone is a life saving drug that temporarily reverses the effects of an accidental overdose of drugs such as heroin, codeine/co-codamol and morphine. As a service, we want to raise awareness about this drug so that the message reaches as many people as possible. We have trained 37 professionals and trained and dispense 48 service users with Naloxone kits since January. In Carmarthenshire alone, we are aware that Naloxone has been administered on 5 occasions, saving 5 lives.”

DDAS has issued an invitation for any drug user or family or friends of users to get in touch to discuss any concerns or worries. The project can offer a variety of ways to help those wishing to stop using or cut down and is able to discuss confidentially any drug related concerns. Service users are encouraged to obtain Take Home Naloxone which DDAS can provide.   The telephone number is 03303 639 997.  Out of hours call DAN 24 / 7 on 0808 808 2234 or text DAN 81066.

Teresa Owen, Chair of the Dyfed Area Planning Board and Director of Public Health for Hywel Dda University Health Board commented:

“Thankfully drug related deaths in Wales have been falling during the past two years. Incidents like this only serve to highlight the need to continue to inform and educate drug users about the risks they face.

“The most important thing is to prevent any further deaths and any further heartache to families. DDAS is working with similar agencies, the police and other emergency services to warn of the dangers and risks of heroin taking. There is no such thing as a “safe” illicit drug and that’s the message we need to get across.”

Superintendent Claire Parmenter, Local Policing Commander for Carmarthenshire said:  “We are committed to preventing further tragedies and fully sypport this Overdose Awareness Campaign.

“Our role as police is enforcement activity and we work closely with the harm reduction agencies to encourage individuals to stop consuming drugs, particularly heroin.

“We are appealing to anyone with information about the supply of heroin or any drugs in the community to contact the police by calling 101, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.”

Rowan Williams added: “It is so sad that we are yet again seeing individuals die as a result of drug taking and I would urge drug users to get in touch with DDAS, or any other agency for advice and support or to get their own Naloxone kits to try and ensure we don’t have further tragic deaths.”