One individual dies after taking contaminated Zopiclone insomnia tablets
- Police have issued a warning to drug users of a potentially contaminated batch
A man has died and seven other people have been rushed to hospital after taking ‘potentially contaminated’ Zopiclone insomnia tablets.
Cleveland Police said it had received reports on Friday of adults being taken to North Tees General Hospital in Stockton-on-Tees, County Durham.
They are currently investigating the death of a man, who is thought to have ingested a possibly contaminated batch of the insomnia tablets.
Cleveland police said: ‘Officers are warning drug users of a potentially contaminated batch which could cause significant illness or lead to an overdose.’
Zopiclone is a sleeping pill which can be used as a ‘short-term treatment’ for severe insomnia, according to the NHS.
A man has died and seven other people have been rushed to hospital after taking contaminated Zopiclone insomnia tablets
The drug is only available on prescription and is taken as a tablet but doctors can order it in liquid form.
It triggers a calming chemical in the brain called gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), according to the NHS website.
The NHS warns against drinking alcohol after taking the drug because it can induce a ‘deep sleep where you find it difficult to wake up’.
The tablet is only prescribed for a period of two to four weeks because as the body becomes more accustomed to the medication, the less effective it is.
Zopiclone was one of the most commonly issued sleeping pills by GPs in 2023, with the number of times Zopiclone was put on a prescription being 167,288 – less than 2021.
According to NHS data, the drug was also appeared on prescription forms 368,442 times last year.
However the drug has a high addiction risk and when it is misused it can cause serious health problems, with withdrawal from the drug being potentially fatal.
MailOnline has approached Cleveland Police for comment.
