Frederick Ireland-Rose

[REDACTED], Advisory Council on the Misuse of  Drugs, 4 th floor NE Quarter, Peel Building, 2 Marsham Street, London, SW1P 4DP

I am Sarah Bourke, HM Assistant Coroner, for the coroner area of Inner North London

On 29 September 2024, Assistant Coroner Stevens commenced an investigation into the death of Frederick Ireland-Rose aged 30 years.  The investigation  concluded at the end of the inquest on 9 January 2025. The conclusion of the  inquest was: Mr Ireland-Rose died in hospital on 19 September 2024. Prior to his death, he had taken cannabis, and some medications sourced from outside the  UK. It is unclear how he came to ingest a nitazene substance or whether he  knowingly did so. It is possible that the nitazene was ingested by vaping. I returned a conclusion that Mr Ireland-Rose’s death was drug related. The medical cause of death was: 1a Hypoxic brain injury 1b Acute opioid toxicity (N-Pyrrolidino isotonitazene).

Mr Ireland-Rose had a history of opiate misuse. He was using cannabis and  cannabinoid vapes to enable him to withdraw from opiates. He had been  abstinent from opiates for about 10 days prior to his death and was well- motivated to remain opiate free. On the afternoon of 15 September 2025, Mr  Ireland-Rose was found unresponsive at his home with a vape in his hand.  Paramedics were called and managed to resuscitate him using advanced life  support techniques. He remained unconscious and was taken to hospital. His  sedation was removed soon after admission and he never regained  consciousness. A CT scan of his brain demonstrated diffuse hypoxic ischaemic  encephalopathy which was not compatible with extended life. Mr Ireland-Rose died in hospital on 19 September 2024. Mr Ireland-Rose was known to purchase cannabinoid vaping fluids online from  unknown sources outside the UK. Toxicology analysis found N-pyrrolidino  isotonitazene at a level of 0.37 ng/ml in a sample of Mr Ireland-Rose’s blood.  The Toxicologist reported that this is “a potent synthetic opioid” which is  “thought to be similar or greater in potency to isotonitazene which is estimated to be approximately 20 times more potent than fentanyl”. The Toxicologist also  reported that “nitazenes are illicit synthetic opioids which have recently  emerged in the heroin supply in the UK”. There was no evidence to suggest that Mr Ireland-Rose had used street heroin prior to his death. The Toxicologist  confirmed that nitazenes can be ingested from a vape and that they have been  detected in refillable vapes and vapes bought illicitly.

During the course of the inquest the evidence revealed matters giving rise to concern. In my opinion there is a risk that future deaths could occur unless  action is taken. In the circumstances it is my statutory duty to report to you. The MATTERS OF CONCERN are as follows. – (1) The use of nitazenes as an adulterant to street heroin is well known. The presence of nitazenes in vaping fluids is less well known. (2) The level of nitazenes ingested by vaping will vary enormously depending on the frequency and extent of inhalations taken by the user. Consequently, the  potential risk of overdose is significant. (3) Public health measures are in place through statutory and voluntary sector drug misuse services to inform heroin users of the risks of nitazene  adulteration. Cannabinoid vape users will often not be known to drug services and therefore may not be aware of the risks posed by nitazenes in vape fluids. (4) Drug services often issue Naloxone to be used in the event of an  opiate/opioid overdose. Cannabinoid vape users may not be aware of Naloxone or may have problems accessing it.

In my opinion action should be taken to prevent future deaths and I believe you and your organisation have the power to take such action.