At least two people have died in the last month due to contaminated drugs
Another person has died as a result of contaminated drugs in Merseyside(Image: Liverpool Echo)
A second person has died as Merseyside battles with contaminated drugs. It was revealed by the ECHO last month how a 62-year-old man had died after consuming nitazenes, a group of extremely potent, synthetic drugs that copy the effect of heroin.
The man died at a home on Leyland Road in Southport, with health bosses stating at the time how there had been eight non-fatal overdoses in and around the town. However, the deadly batch of drugs have now been found in Wirral, with another death linked to the synthetic opioids.
No details have been released about the second person who died, but Cheshire and Merseyside Drug Local Drug Information System (LDIS) issued a second urgent warning after the death this week.
It also raises questions as to whether there is more than one batch of the synthetic drug in Merseyside and Cheshire.
The notice said: “In recent days, there has been confirmation of contaminated batch/batches of heroin circulating in and around the Southport and Wirral areas, with other reports of concern from other local areas across Cheshire and Merseyside.
“There have also been a number of fatal overdoses, some of which required hospitalisation and at least two of which were fatal. Forensic testing has identified the synthetic opioid etonitazene in the supply. Synthetic opiates are extremely high risk increasing the risk of overdose and death.”
Following initial reports from the ECHO at the end of last month, Merseyside Police said two people – a 51-year-old man from Southport and a 32-year-old woman from Waterloo – were arrested on suspicion of manslaughter as part of the investigation into the batch of contaminated drugs.
Lord Street in Southport(Image: Colin Lane/Liverpool Echo)
In a statement to the ECHO, Wirral Director of Public Health, Dave Bradburn, said: “An urgent alert has been issued by the Cheshire and Merseyside Local Drug Information System (LDIS) regarding a contaminated batch (or batches) of heroin circulating in and around Wirral and Southport areas, with similar reports from other parts of Cheshire and Merseyside. Alerts and harm reduction advice has been widely shared via local networks.
“The contaminated heroin includes nitazenes which are far stronger than heroin and dramatically increase the risk of overdose, particularly when people don’t know the substance is contaminated and anyone who uses drugs, or who knows someone who does, is urged to take precautions including not using alone and using smaller amounts than usual. If possible carry naloxone.
“If you suspect someone has overdosed call 999 immediately.”
The force last said Carl Gardiner, 51 and of Leyland Road in Southport, had been charged with three counts of possession of a controlled class A drug, namely cocaine, heroin and etonitazene. He was remanded to appear in Wirral Magistrates’ Court.
Merseyside Police said the 32-year-old woman from Waterloo had been bailed pending further enquiries.
The Cheshire and Merseyside Local Drug Information System (LDIS) is a multi-disciplinary system which uses existing local resources to receive, evaluate, and disseminate alerts about new and/or novel, potent, adulterated, or contaminated drugs.
It uses elements from established local systems and is separate but complementary to the protocol used by Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID) centres and national teams to assess drugs intelligence and, where required, issue national briefings or alerts.
The notice issued by the LDIS provides information and guidance for how drug users can keep themselves safe.
This includes people ensuring they have access to nalaxone – an emergency medication used to temporarily reverse the life-threatening effects of opioid overdoses – and they they know where it is.
People are also advised to avoid mixing drugs, including with alcohol, which further increases the risk of overdose.
Those who are using drugs are advised to ‘go low and slow’, to start with a small amount and wait at least two hours before taking any more and to not use drugs alone.
There are also testing strips which can be made available from local drug teams. While not 100% accurate, they can help to identify if drugs have been adulterated with a more harmful substance.
Anyone with concerns should contact 999 or their local drug service.
For more information see: https://www.wirralways.org.uk/2026/05/07/drug-alert-contaminated-heroin-on-the-wirral/