Concerns raised over increase in drug overdoses during pandemic
and live on Freeview channel 276
A drop in the purity levels of illicit drugs could lead to the increase in overdoses as dealers see disruption to their supply chain, according to a charity.
We Are With You claims providers may begin to ‘cut’ their substances to increasingly dangerous levels as the Covid-19 lockdown measures impact their ability to access drugs.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdThe drugs and mental health charity also claims users have been stockpiling drugs to see them through the social distancing restrictions brought in.
Andrew Horne, interim executive director of operations in Scotland, said: “Some of the people we work with here in Scotland have been telling us that they're stockpiling drugs.
“But we're also hearing about supply difficulties too and that the purity of many drugs is decreasing as dealers cut them with different substances to increase their bulk.
“The concern for us is that people might not know what they're taking or could turn to other drugs that they are unfamiliar with, which could have more serious consequences for them and increase the chances of overdose.”
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdPrime Minister Boris Johnson as ordered all non-essential businesses to shut as the nation tries to stop the spread of coronavirus.
Social distancing and instructions for people to stay within their households as much as possible have also been brought in.
As of yesterday there were 602 confirmed cases of coronavirus in Sheffield and the death toll was 29.
There are now 134 confirmed cases in Barnsley, 129 in Rotherham, and 95 in Doncaster.