an unknown substance responsible for three overdose deaths

A substance “still unidentified” is the cause of the death by overdose of three people and the hospitalization in intensive care of six other patients, informed, Monday, September 11, the Regional Health Agency (ARS) of Reunion. Few indications have been given by health authorities on the circumstances of the overdoses. “The three people died at their homes”simply specified the ARS.

“Autopsies on the deceased were carried out”announced the health authorities and samples were sent to France to identify the substance. “According to the first investigations, it would be synthetic opiates 500 times more powerful than heroin”specified the ARS.

About fifteen poisonings since the beginning of the summer

The conditions under which these products were introduced to the island are still under investigation.“These could be products ordered by mistake without the sponsor being aware of their dangerousness”commented Doctor David Mété, head of the addiction department at Saint-Denis University Hospital.

Presenting “a major risk of overdose, a few seconds or minutes after taking”these synthetic products can be “smoked, vaporized, injected, ingested, inhaled, snorted without the consumer’s knowledge or not”, warns the ARS in its press release. Since the end of June 2023, a total of 13 poisonings have been recorded in people aged 21 to 46, the ARS said in a press release. This is the first time that such a violent substance has been reported in Reunion.