Contaminated ketamine in Manchester
Over the last few months, Recovery services have been responding to a higher than usual level of contaminated drugs in the Manchester area, leading to an increased risk of overdose and a spike in drug related deaths. There is an ongoing national and local response to this situation, and the trend seems to be that the newer synthetic opioids such as Fentanyl, Nitazines and Xylazines (which have had very damaging impacts on communities in the USA) are making their way to the UK.
In Manchester specifically, nitazines are most likely to be found in heroin. However, nitazenes are now also being found in samples of other drugs including ketamine, cocaine and M-Kat (as recently as this week).
With Manchester Pride on the horizon, we are aware that many members of our community may be using drugs which could potentially contain these dangerous substances.
Harm reduction - testing strips
In response, LGBT Foundation are now offering free Nitazene and Xylazine testing strips, which can be collected* and taken home so people can check if these particular harmful substances are present in their drugs before deciding if / how to use them.
No details or personal information will be taken on collection, and the kits include all the information needed for doing the test and reading the results. Positive results can be reported anonymously so that the movements of these substances can be charted to keep as many people as safe as possible.
*2nd Floor, LGBT Foundation, Fairbairn House, 72 Sackville St, Manchester M1 3NJ during office opening hours (9am-8pm during Manchester Pride, 19th-24th Aug). Email recovery@lgbt.foundation or call the helpline on 0345 330 3030 with any access queries.
Test strips can also be collected from all Change Grow Live services. Check out their helpful instruction video here:
You can also use WEDINOS Sample Testing to test your drugs if you can spare a bit to send off to their lab. However, this method takes longer to get the results back so go easy in the meantime.
Further support & resources
As well as testing strips, LGBT Foundation and CGL have supplies of Naloxone - a nasal spray medicine that rapidly reverses an opioid overdose. If you / someone you know is regularly using opioids, or other drugs such as ketamine (which might be contaminated), then please reach out to access Naloxone. You do not have to be using substances yourself to carry Naloxone and keep your friends safe.
Remember that chemsafe.space is full of harm reduction information advising on how to make things as safe as possible when taking drugs such as K. Brush up on your knowledge before Manchester Pride, by checking out our pages on drug interactions, overdose signs, and consent. Then go and leave your opinions and feedback in our forum!
Finally, please see, and share, the following infographics and pdf warnings (provided by CGL) for further information on ketamine and synthetic opioids:
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