Recurring concern

Unreliable information about the contents of illicit drugs

First to latest report 15 May 2015 — 30 Jun 2023

Reports that mention this concern
2
Times this concern has been raised
2
Stated actions linked to this concern
0

What this concern includes

Includes failures or hazards involving illicit or unregulated drugs whose contents, composition or active substances are unknown or not reliably communicated to users, including potent synthetic opiates and comparable unregulated products.

What is not included
  • Excludes regulated medicines and products where contents are reliably specified and controlled.
  • Excludes general drug availability, supply or access-control failures when uncertainty about the contents is not the unsafe condition.
  • Excludes toxicity, overdose or treatment failures where the drug contents were known and the deficient control lies elsewhere.
  • Excludes product labelling concerns unrelated to illicit or unregulated drugs.

Reports and published responses 2 reports

See individual reports that have raised this concern, and the actions taken in response

  1. Surrey

    AI-generated summary

    Victoria STOREY · Prevention of Future Deaths report

    This summary was generated using AI from the published report. Please read the original report for the complete account.

    Report summary

    Victoria Storey was found deceased in her bedroom on 3 September 2022 after taking an accidental overdose of a potent synthetic opioid that was not licensed for medicinal use. The report raised concerns that the substance was illicitly traded and marketed as common pharmaceutical opiates, that its contents were unknown to users, and that it was not then controlled under the relevant drug legislation despite its high risk of fatal overdose.

    Read the report on judiciary.uk

    Source evidence

    How this individual concern was interpreted

    PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the report wording shown below.

    PFD Monitor interpretation

    Uncertainty about the contents of illicit potent synthetic opiates

    Wider context from the report

    “- Due to the nature of the drug in potent synthetic opiates, there is no way for the end user to know what the illicit substance contains. ”

    Source location

    Victoria STOREY · Prevention of Future Deaths report
    Page 2 · concerns

    Open source report

  2. Manchester West

    AI-generated summary

    Jacques Gerard Lakeman and Torin Callan Lakeman · Prevention of Future Deaths report

    This summary was generated using AI from the published report. Please read the original report for the complete account.

    Report summary

    Jacques Gerard Lakeman and Torin Callan Lakeman, brothers, died at The Grapes Public House, Stoneclough, Bolton, on 1 December 2014. The medical cause of death for both was recorded as fatal MDMA toxicity, with the inquest conclusion being misuse of Ecstasy. The report raised concerns about the online supply and postal delivery of illicit drugs, including the unknown strength and contents of substances and the lack of regulation.

    Read the report on judiciary.uk

    Source evidence

    How this individual concern was interpreted

    PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the report wording shown below.

    PFD Monitor interpretation

    Unknown and potentially contaminated composition of Internet-supplied drugs

    Wider context from the report

    “1. During the Inquest evidence was heard that: i. Torin had received supplies of drugs, prior to November 2014, by use of the Internet using the “Dark Internet” or “Dark Web”. The Inquest heard that access to the “Dark Internet” or “Dark Web” would be difficult without having knowledge or expertise in relation to Internet access but young persons, particular intelligent University students, would find access to the websites to be relatively easy and it would not be difficult for such persons to obtain access to illicit activities, including the supply of illicit drugs. The websites are anonymous and there is no contact information with regard to the address or location of the owners of the website nor with regard to the suppliers of illicit drugs. ii. The constituent parts of the drugs, including the strength and content of the drugs, are unknown and may contain contaminants and further illicit substances creating an additional risk. iii. There is no regulation of the supply of drugs by use of the Internet and there is no protection in place in relation to the delivery or importation of drugs using the Internet and delivery to a United Kingdom postal address by use of the Postal System. iv. The evidence raised concerns that future deaths will occur unless action is taken to review the above issues, particularly in view of the supply of illicit drugs, including Class A drugs, by use of the Internet. v. On the 30th March 2015 I reported a similar concern to you relating to the death of Jason Houghton, who died on the 30th June 2014 from the combined toxic effects of illicit drugs obtained by use of the Internet. 2. I request that you consider the above concerns particularly in regard to the following:- i. The supply and importation of drugs, including Class A drugs, in the manner and in the form described in this report, by use of the Internet. ii. The regulation of the Internet, which may be difficult if not impossible, in relation to the supply of drugs and delivery of drugs to addresses in the United Kingdom by use of the Postal System. ”

    Source location

    Jacques Gerard Lakeman and Torin Callan Lakeman · Prevention of Future Deaths report
    Page 2 · concerns

    Open source report

Actions and positions describe what organisations say in published responses. Implementation is not independently verified.

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Data last updated 7 September 2026