Emergency measures taken after seizure of dangerous opioids
The Minister of Health says it is vital to do everything possible to prevent the substance from entering the drug market and to be prepared if it does happen to prevent serious consequences. mbl.is/Eyþór Árnason
The Ministry of Health convened an emergency meeting in response to the recent seizure of counterfeit OxyContin tablets that were found to contain nitazene, a highly potent and life-threatening synthetic opioid. The meeting included representatives from national health institutions, law enforcement, and harm reduction organizations.
Nitazene, produced in illegal laboratories, poses a significant risk of respiratory failure and death and has been responsible for numerous fatalities across Europe.
Minister of Health Alma D. Möller emphasized the urgent need to prevent the drug’s entry into the Icelandic market and prepare a swift response should it circulate. “A coordinated, proactive approach is essential,” she stated, noting that a monitoring and rapid response group must be established immediately.
Key actions discussed include :
- Creation of a dedicated monitoring group
- Increased availability of nitazene rapid tests
- Broader access to naloxone, the life-saving opioid antidote
- Support for harm reduction organizations to analyze street drugs
- A shared early warning protocol between agencies
- Education campaigns targeting healthcare workers, responders, and drug users
Nitazene is a very strong opioid produced in illegal laboratories. mbl.is/Eggert Jóhannesson
A report from the Icelandic Medicines Agency revealed that this form of nitazene was not previously listed as illegal in Iceland. The Ministry of Health has now updated the relevant regulation, effective immediately, to include this variant.
This marks a significant step in Iceland’s drug safety policy, aiming to protect vulnerable individuals and frontline responders from an emerging and deadly threat.
