Coming to a street near YOU? Warning that Chinese-made 'Frankenstein' drug ... trends now
Terrifying zombieland scenes plaguing US-cities could be coming to British soon as Chinese-made 'Frankenstein' opioids start to flood our streets.
That's according to a former drug dealer turned pastor and addiction advocate.
Mick Fleming, 58, who runs charity Church on the Street, said it is already seeing an increase in deaths related to nitazenes.
The synthetic super-strength opioids are similar to fentanyl, which has ravaged parts of the US, leading to addicts strewn across the streets or staggering around in a drugged-up haze in cities like New York, Sacramento, Philadelphia, and Portland.
But nitazenes, manufactured in illicit Chinese labs and smuggled to Europe through established criminal routes, are far stronger.
Synthetic opioid users can remain mobile but in a warped mental state, giving the so-called 'zombielands' their name. This man, believed to have taken drugs, was pictured in San Francisco last year
Several US cities are caught in the grasp of opioid addiction, Pictured here users both taking drugs and apparently pass out in a doorway in Portland, Oregon
The drug (pictured) was first detected in the UK from a sample of white powder found in the back of a taxi in Wakefield in April 2021. Available in powder, tablet and liquid form, they can be injected, swallowed, placed under the tongue, snorted and vaped
Pastor Mick Fleming, 58, who runs the charity Church on the Street said they already seeing a spike in deaths related to a new drug called nitazenes
Studies suggest they are up to 40 times more potent than fentanyl and 1,000 times more powerful than morphine.
Nitazenes are often mixed in with other illicit substances like heroin to provide a more powerful kick for users.
Mixing them this way also allows dealers to stretch their supplies and get users hooked more easily, providing a cruel and profitable cycle of repeat customers for dealers.
Mr Fleming said his charity has already seen eight opiate-related deaths in 2024. For comparison, it usually sees three in a regular year.
Blaming the situation on nitazenes, he told The Mirror: 'We don’t have any correct figures yet but we know it is horrendous.
'We’re seeing hardcore drug users overdose and die and that never happens because their bodies are tolerant and they know how to use.
'They don’t normally die. So when they start dropping dead you know there is something in the gear, and that’s what is happening.'
But Mr Fleming warned there could be more deaths among casual or occasional drug users as nitazenes become increasingly added to dealers' supplies.
Nitazenes are sometimes also sold as oxycodone pills or Xanax powders.
As such, addicts don't always know they are consuming these drugs until they suffer a health emergency or become addicted to the powerful additional kick it provides.
Nitazenes usage has already been linked to at least 54 deaths in the UK over the last six months, sparking
