Blue pills
If you have obtained blue pills (potentially in a blister pack with Arabic writing), taking these pills could result in a fatal overdose.
If someone becomes unwell, please call 999 for an ambulance/attend Derriford Hospital Emergency Department as soon as possible. Do not wait. Health professionals will always treat people who are unwell.
If you can, place the person in the recovery position to ensure that they are still breathing and can breathe easily. Further guidance is provided here: What to do in an emergency | FRANK
If someone has overdosed and you have access to naloxone (opioid overdose medication) use it- even if you’re not sure what they’ve taken – naloxone will not harm them. Sometimes drugs which are not sold as opiates do contain them.
People can go back into overdose again, once naloxone has worn off, so do not leave them alone and encourage them to go with the ambulance or to hospital. Sadly, people can die later, even after initially recovering well.
Strong opioid overdoses can require multiple doses of naloxone. You do not need to give doses at a faster rate, but you might need more than one naloxone kit. Continue to administer naloxone as needed.
Carry naloxone
Needle Syringe Programme (NSP) and Naloxone availability in Plymouth – Google My Maps
Always carry naloxone. It’s available from Harbour or Naloxone ;Advocates Plymouth (NAP). Harbour- Hyde Park House. Mutley Plain. Plymouth. PL4 6LF 01752 434343 or thcpltd.harbour@nhs.net
Carry extra naloxone – in some cases, it has taken multiple doses of naloxone to reverse overdoses involving contaminated substances.
Harm reduction
Ideally, don’t use this substance, but if you do, please don’t use alone. People have a greater chance of surviving when they were with others. Use with others and encourage your friends to use with others too.
Take a small amount of the drug to see how you react before taking more and leave time between doses so you can feel the full effect
If you are using with others, avoid all using at the same time. Stagger your dose
If one person uses their drugs first, wait until the peak effects have worn off before the other person uses.
Ideally one or both of you have naloxone.
If you are going to use alone, reach out to someone to let them know your plans and ask them to check up on you. If you don’t have people to stay nearby or check on you, consider using BuddyUp – Cranstoun app.
Check your drugs
Reagent tests are legal and sold online. There are limitations with reagent testing but they will allow you to check the substance is what you think it is
Submit an anonymous sample of the substance to WEDINOS – Sample Testing for analysis