STAFF at a medical centre in Somerset have confirmed that they have received reports of a potentially dangerous, even fatal, drug being sold in the county.
Wellington Medical Centre, located on Mantle Street, has received a warning from the Public Health regarding reports of blue pills being sold as ‘Valium’.
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The organisation has released a ‘Drug Alert‘, saying that there is a likelihood that these drugs are contaminated with an opiate, posing a significant risk of overdose, which could lead to death.
What is Valium?
Diazepam is sold under the brand name Valium. It is illegal to possess the drug without a prescription, and for such purposes, it is classified as a Class C drug.
If a user overuses how much Valium they take, their symptoms are likely to get really bad. Users may experience dangerous, even fatal, seizures, along with extreme anxiety, agitation, memory loss, and exhaustion
As a long-acting benzodiazepine, Valium remains in the system longer than short-acting drugs in the same family, such as alprazolam (Xanax) or lorazepam (Ativan).
This means that Valium can have a lingering effect on the body and brain, and that the symptoms of long-term abuse or addiction may be more severe, according to American Addiction Centres.
In this case, symptoms will be worse, as Wellington Medical Centre reports the drug is possibly being mixed with other drugs, including an opiate.
Valium (pictured) is illegal to purchase in the UK without a prescription. (Image: Anthony Devlin/PA)
In a statement released online, a spokesperson from Wellington Medical Centre said: “Drug Alert: Blue Pills in Circulation.