Following the discovery of a man’s body in the town centre early on Sunday morning (3 June), police have issued a warning to drug users.
The victim, who was in his 40s, was pronounced dead despite the greatest efforts of the emergency services responding to the scene in The Parade.
Before his death, detectives believed he had consumed a poor batch of heroin, which they believe may have been connected to three other deaths in the previous month.
According to Wiltshire Police, all four of the people are thought to have consumed what they thought to be heroin prior to experiencing medical problems.
Since May 2024, Swindon police and medical personnel have received reports of several cases involving drug users who took narcotics like heroin and cocaine and experienced extremely poor health, necessitating medical attention.
Nitazenes, a recently developed synthetic opioid, is thought to have been combined with heroin. It has a significant risk of overdose, drug-related hospitalisation, and drug-related mortality.
“We are in close contact with our colleagues in Public Health in relation to these circumstances and we are keen to ensure we protect people from harm where possible,” stated Superintendent Conway Duncan.
Naturally, we oppose the use of illegal narcotics by anyone, but we also recognise that some people are addicted, and it is crucial that they are informed about the drugs in question which appears to be circulating in Swindon.
“We urge drug users in the Swindon area to carry the opioid reversal medication naloxone and to be aware of the potentially fatal consequences of using drugs alone.”
It is recommended that anyone with information or concerns regarding drugs in their neighbourhood contact Crimestoppers anonymously at 0800 555 111 or the police at 101.
