Drug Overdoses Spike in Camden, Council Plans Alert System

Camden Council is planning to implement a drug alert system following a spike in non-fatal drug overdoses in March. The spike, which occurred between 3 and 7 March 2025, was concentrated in the north and central parts of the borough. The substances identified as contributing to the spike were nitazenes (a super strength synthetic opioid) and medetomidine (which acts as a sedative and does not respond to naloxone), with toxicology reports notably finding no heroin in the samples tested.

The council's adult drug and alcohol services, InRoads (provided by Via) and CGL Camden (provided by Change Grow Live), responded rapidly and collaboratively, supported by Project ADDER (a Metropolitan Police programme to provide support to people who use drugs). The response included enhanced outreach, extended weekend provision with prescribing support, and distribution of harm reduction tools including naloxone, nitazene and fentanyl testing strips. Over 250 service users were contacted directly, with targeted engagement focused on high-risk individuals such as those recently discharged from hospitals or prisons. The response was underpinned by twice-daily debriefs, real-time information sharing, and support from local pharmacies, hostels and outreach teams.

The incident highlighted the need for improvements, leading to a set of recommendations that are being worked into an action plan. These include:

• Developing a formal protocol for emergency and out-of-hours responses
• Exploring the future shape of the weekend offer
• Updating clinical assessments to reflect the emergence of potent synthetic opioids and other adulterants found in the local drug supply
• Improving local information sharing between acute trusts and drug and alcohol services
• Expanding naloxone availability and training
• Agreeing a joint drug alert protocol between commissioners and Police
• Enhancing real-time sharing of non-fatal overdose data
• Establishing a clear case definition for drug-related incidents to distinguish between isolated and cluster cases

The Insight, Learning and Impact Report – Quarter 4/End of Year 2024-25, which was presented to the Health and Adult Social Care Scrutiny Committee on 8 July 2025¹, identified the sudden increase in drug-related non-fatal overdoses as a key challenge for the Adults and Health directorate. The report also highlighted the opportunity to develop a joint local drug alert system with the police and to amend drug alert messaging in accordance with adulterated supply.