News · 9 February 2026
Study finds synthetic opioid deaths significantly undercounted in UK
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A study by King’s College London indicates deaths involving nitazenes, an extremely strong group of synthetic opioids, may be significantly underestimated in the UK. Researchers found the drugs break down quickly in blood samples after death, making them difficult for forensic tests to detect. Although the National Crime Agency logged 333 related fatalities in 2024, specialists believe the real number could be far higher, raising concerns that gaps in data may undermine national overdose prevention and harm-reduction efforts.
Reported by Guardian · How we write briefs