Cannabis vape users have been warned about the dangers of using unregulated devices after the death of a man who may have unknowingly ingested a powerful synthetic opioid. Frederick Ireland-Rose, 30, from London, died of a brain injury in hospital in September 2024, four days after being found unresponsive with a cannabinoid vape in his hand, some 10 days into an attempt to quit opiates for good.
Frederick was using cannabis to help him with opiate withdrawal symptoms, and was known to purchase cannabinoid vaping fluids from unknown sources outside the UK, an inquest heard. After his death, a toxicologist found his blood contained isonitazene, a potent synthetic opioid 20 times stronger than fentanyl, which is around 50 times more potent than heroin.
There was no evidence Frederick had used street heroin before his death, and the toxicologist said nitazenes have been detected in refillable and illegally purchased vapes. In her conclusion, Inner North London Assistant Coroner Sarah Bourke observed: “It is unclear how he came to ingest a nitazene substance or whether he knowingly did so. It is possible that the nitazene was ingested by vaping.”
Due to the apparent lack of information on the subject, and the risk that cannabis vape users may accidently ingest powerful opiates, Ms Bourke wrote to the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs and the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities, setting out her concerns about the relative obscurity of knowledge on nitazenes in vaping devices.
“The presence of nitazenes in vaping fluids is less well known,” she said, “The level of nitazenes ingested by vaping will vary enormously depending on the frequency and extent of inhalations taken by the user. Consequently, the potential risk of overdose is significant.”
Ms Bourke warned that because cannabis vape users are often unknown to drug services, they may not be aware of the information that is available there. Cannabis users may also be unable to access Naloxone, a fast acting treatment used for opiate overdoses, she said.
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