Impact of dangerous synthetic drugs on vulnerable populations

2min Snip

00:00

Play full episode

Summary

Transcript

Episode notes

Exploring the devastating consequences of dangerous synthetic drugs on vulnerable drug users in Birmingham, with a poignant mention of Maria's tragic circumstances and the importance of seeking help. The chapter concludes with acknowledgments to all involved in the production of the episode.

Social affairs correspondent Robert Booth tells Madeleine Finlay why a class of synthetic opioids called nitazenes, first developed in the 1950s, is leading to a worrying number of fatal overdoses in the UK. And she hears from toxicology and addiction specialist Dr Joseph D’Orazio about a tranquilliser called xylazine that has been showing up in alarming volumes in the US illegal drug supply and is now starting to appear in toxicology reports in the UK. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/sciencepod