The Drug Death Detectives

Is a lethal drug killing more people in the UK than official records suggest? Nitazenes are a synthetic opioid that were originally designed and made for medical purposes. However, clinical trials on the drug were stopped because it was discovered even minuscule amounts were enough to kill a patient and it was impossible to administer a safe dose. Recently though the drug has been found lacing supplies of heroine and other drugs coming to the UK. It’s likely the users have no idea that the strength of what they’re taking has been turbo-charged by this synthetic drug. Sadly, there have already been a number of deaths with nitazenes identified as the cause. But now a group of forensic toxicologists, who run blood tests on victims to help determine a cause of death, suspect it is likely the drug has claimed more lives than we know about. That's because they fear the drug can’t be detected in the bodies of some of its victims. But how and why? The BBC’s Nick Holland has spent a year following the team’s investigation as they try to unlock the secrets of Nitazenes, a drug they believe could be an invisible killer.

Produced and presented by Nick Holland
Editor Clare Fordham
Sound Engineer James Beard