Dyfed Drug and Alcohol Service (DDAS), in partnership with Hywel Dda University Health Board, Dyfed Powys Police, National Probation Service and Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion and Pembrokeshire Local Authorities, have expressed serious concern about possible drug-related deaths in the Dyfed-Powys area, which may be the result of a batch of heroin and street synthetic opiates.
Partners are now working together on an overdose awareness campaign to be rolled out across Carmarthen, Ceredigion and Pembrokeshire to alert service users, their families and the general public.
The campaign will run from today to the 4th June and anyone can drop in to the big black recovery bus which will be parked in various locations:
- 31st May – Aberystwyth,
- 1st June – Castle Square, Haverforwest
- 2nd June – ASDA car park, Pembroke Dock
- 3rd June – Station Road in Llanelli
- 4th June – Guild Hall, Carmarthen
Rowan Williams, Regional Director, Drugaid, commented, ‘While nobody wants to see people risk their lives by taking drugs, we recognise that there are a lot of individuals who misuse drugs, including heroin. Over the years we have seen far too many lives destroyed by drugs – not just the users but also their families and friends, after all drug users are also somebody’s son or daughter, mother or father.
‘We are encouraging service users to utilise the Wedinos Sampling Testing Service, who collect samples of unknown and unidentified substances for testing and then analyse these for their chemical profile. Often, people are taking a mixture of substances that is different to what they think they have purchased. Service users can contact DDAS on 03303 639 997 or drop in to one of our operational bases across Dyfed for harm reduction advice or support in submitting a Wedinos sample.’
