The synthetic opioids claiming lives in the UK

The Briefing Room

Deaths from synthetic opioids such as nitazenes and fentanyl are low in the UK but there are fears the problem could escalate and that figures don't show the true picture of the situation. David Aaronovitch explores how dangerous these drugs are, why the opioid crisis is so bad in the US, where they come from and why a shortage of heroin in the UK could mean drug cartels switch to supplying these often fatal alternatives.

Guests: Rick Treble, Forensic chemist, and advisor to the Government’s Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs. Dr Caroline Copeland, Director of the National Programme on Substance Abuse Deaths Alex Stevens, Professor of Criminal Justice at the University of Kent Sam Quinones, journalist and author of 'Dreamland: The True Tale of America's Opiate Epidemic'

Production team: Nick Holland, Kirsteen Knight and Charlotte McDonald Production Co-ordinator: Gemma Ashman Sound engineer: Rod Farquhar Editor: Penny Murphy