Police have echoed official warnings to drug users after five men in Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire suffered suspected drug overdoses overnight.
Hertfordshire Constabulary said officers were called to an address on Peartree Lane just after 10pm on Thursday following reports a man had collapsed.
While the man received treatment, police said they were alerted to a further three men becoming unwell, with all four transported to hospital by ambulance.
It is believed they suffered suspected heroin overdoses.
Police said a fifth man was taken to hospital for treatment just after midnight following another suspected drug overdose.
It comes after Public Health England (PHE) said on Tuesday there had been at least 46 poisonings resulting in 16 deaths in south London, the South East, South West and East of England over the past two weeks.
Inspector Spencer Neil, of Hertfordshire Constabulary, said: “Earlier this week Public Health England (PHE) issued a warning of a sharp rise in the number of overdoses linked to people using drugs in several areas across England.
“Although at this early stage there is no evidence to suggest the incidents in Welwyn Garden City are linked to other overdose cases across the country I would like to urge those who use drugs, particularly heroin, to be extra cautious about what they are using and how much.
“Hertfordshire Constabulary will be working with PHE, the National Police Chiefs’ Council and the National Crime Agency who are leading the investigation into the recent rise in overdose cases across the country.”
PHE said there are early signs that the overdoses might have been caused by heroin mixed with a potent and dangerous synthetic opioid, but it is carrying out more work before it can confirm any links between the cases.
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