The rise of nittazines in the UK's illegal drug supply

Nittazines, a class of synthetic opioids, have been causing fatalities among drug users in the UK. Birmingham is one of the hotspots for these deaths, with a significant increase in cases in July. Nittazines are many times stronger than heroin and fentanyl, making them incredibly dangerous, especially because users often unknowingly consume them. The problem may be related to a shift in drug production, as Afghanistan's ban on poppy farming has caused a decrease in heroin supply, leading to the emergence of alternative drugs like nittazines. The UK has seen a rise in deaths attributed to nittazines, including cases in London, Bristol, and the northeast of England.