Early warning system will detect opioids to help prevent US-style fentanyl crisis in Britain

System will test waste water and spikes of reported overdoses to track the presence of synthetic drugs across the UK

An early warning system to spot synthetic opioids and other drugs is being developed by ministers, in an attempt to prevent a US-style fentanyl crisis.
It will test waste water and spikes of overdoses being reported by the emergency services to track the presence and strength of synthetic drugs across the UK in real time. 
Chris Philp, the crime and policing minister, will announce details in his speech at the annual conference of the UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs, in Vienna on Friday.
In The Times, Mr Philp said the early warning system will help Britain to avoid a crisis on the scale of the one the US is experiencing. He said the “public need to be aware of the risks”. 
There is also a lack of awareness about the fact that synthetic opioids are significantly more toxic than better-known drugs such as heroin, he added.
He said: “Sadly, some seek these drugs out. Just as tragically, many don’t — and are unknowingly taking illicit drugs cut with a potent synthetic opioid. Misusing drugs is playing Russian roulette with your life.”
Fentanyl is a form of synthetic opioid which is up to 50 times more potent than heroin and 100 times stronger than morphine.
The Government will also expand the distribution of the life-saving medication naloxone, which reverses the effects of an opioid overdose.
Data from the UK’s new warning system will be fed into data in the UN commission’s own early warning system, which alerts countries of emerging trends.
The minister added: “The UK is a funding contributor to the UN’s early warning advisory system, which alerts countries across the world to emerging drug trends, and we are also enhancing our own system.
“This will include state-of-the-art monitoring for the presence of synthetic drugs by analysing waste water, or recording spikes in overdoses in specific locations. These findings will be cascaded down to law enforcement and public health agencies, meaning they can take rapid action.”