Residents of Finland die en masse due to unknown drug

In April, five men around 20 years of age died unexpectedly in private residences across Turku city in Finland, Report informs referring to Yle.

The deaths are suspected to be caused by drug, alcohol and prescription drug overdoses or their combined effect.

According to the police in Southwest Finland, the events may not be directly related, but there are connecting factors.

"The deaths of several young people in such a short period of time gives the reason to suspect that an exceptionally dangerous drug or narcotic is now spreading among young people in the Turku region," Inspector Jari Riiali from the Southwest Finland Police Department said in a press release.

Substance abuse service A-Clinic Foundation recently issued a warning about sedatives on the illicit market possibly being laced with fentanyl.

Allegedly, fentanyl has been added to alprazolam-based products. A type of alprazolam, sold on the street under the name Ksalol, is suspected to have caused deaths and hospitalizations in Finland throughout the spring.

In addition, five more cases were reported in Helsinki. So far, it has not been established with which substance the deaths are associated.

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