– We have received information that young people in Östra Göinge have been smoking hash that contains fentanyl. Therefore, we want to warn parents, young people and other adults, says Cecilia Flood, Head of Division in the municipality.

She takes the matter very seriously. The young people ingested the drug via hash.

– Which is unusual. The question is whether they mixed it themselves or if they didn’t know that it was in the hash, says Flood.

Fentanyl is a strong opioid. It’s used as a medicine for very severe pain. The effect is similar to that you get from taking heroin.

– But it’s 50 times stronger than heroin and very easy to overdose from.

Micrograms can lead to death.

Fentanyl is ingested in different ways. As a nasal spray, mixed with water, hash or tobacco, or injected. It’s available in tablet and patch form and it’s common for dealers to lace cocaine and heroin with fentanyl.

– We encourage parents to talk to their children about the risks of this drug. The consequences can be catastrophic, says Cecilia Flood.

A few years ago, the drug caused the death of four young people in Vilhelmina in Västerbotten. Fentanyl is classified as one of the deadliest drugs in the world.

Typical symptoms are dilated pupils, loss of consciousness and sudden respiratory arrest.