The Oxfordshire Public Health Drug and Alcohol Team has issued a red alert for the workforce following reports of overdoses and contaminated heroin across the South East.

The Oxfordshire County Council-run service has received reports of fatalities in the last few days in the South East region of the UK.

ALSO READ: Oxfordshire drug deaths at an all-time high

In the past 10-14 days there have been an unprecedented number of overdoses in the region and London, with some deaths in people who use drugs - primarily heroin.

Current reports indicate that these may be a result of potentially contaminated heroin.

As a result, The Oxfordshire Public Health Drug and Alcohol Team has issued a red alert for the workforce to inform service users of the following:

• Buying from an unknown source is always a risk

• Mixing drugs and alcohol is potentially fatal

• Try to avoid using alone

ALSO READ: Pictures show drug dealer's Honda wedged among Morrison's trolleys

• Be aware you may not have the tolerance level to manage these drugs

• If someone goes over or collapses call 999 and stay with them

• Tell your worker of any unusual symptoms

Office for National Statistics figures show there were 42 drug-related deaths recorded in Oxfordshire in 2020.

This was up from 32 the year before, and the highest figure since 2002.

The deaths relate to poisoning from a variety of illegal and legal drugs, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines.

The figures count deaths from drug abuse but also include those from accidents, suicides, and health complications arising from drug use.

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