'Don't play Russian Roulette with your lives', warns police chief after deaths in Bradford link heroin use to toxic additive

Four deaths in Bradford are being linked to Fentanyl which is mixed with heroin but is considerably stronger.

Users are potentially miscalculating the amount to use and are dying because of the effects.

A senor detective in West Yorkshire, who is in charge of investigations surrounding the supply of the drugs to the district, said users were playing "Russian Roulette" with their lives.

Post-mortem examinations from four deaths in Bradford has found Fentanyl in toxicoloxy tests but full inquests have yet to be held.

Pure Fentanyl is 50 times stronger than heroin and 100 times stronger than morphine.

More concerning is the increase in the use of carfentanil, an analogue opioid which has been linked to deaths in the US and which is 10,000 times stronger than morphine.

This drug is not manufactured for human use.

Fentanyls are taken either directly or mixed with low grade heroin.

Detective Superintendent Patrick Twiggs said at a press conference at West Yorkshire Police headquarters in Wakefield earlier today: "The use of these substances came to our attention about six months ago following an increase in drug deaths across Yorkshire, Humber and Cleveland.

"Toxicology experts found evidence of Fentanyl in samples and these are being investigated.

"Currently, 73 deaths are being investigated and a further 50 have been positively linked to the substance.

"Sixteen deaths have occurred in West Yorkshire."

"Our aim is to mitigate the threat this causes and try to stop the chain of supply coming into the country.

"It is being bought on the dark web from China and Hong Kong, though it is known to be available from Mexico and Canada as well.

"Its use is limited to drug users so there is no general threat to the general public.

"Why they are risking it? I do not know. My advice to drug users is don't touch it because then you are playing Russian Roulette."