Russia's Investigative Committee said on November 21 that it has launched a probe into mass overdose cases among drug users in the southwestern city of Astrakhan. Three people have died, while 20 remain in the hospital, including 10 in grave condition. Three Central Asian nationals were detained on suspicion of illegally distributing methadone, an extremely strong synthetic opioid. The drug was sold as mephedrone, a synthetic stimulant drug that most likely caused the mass overdoses as it is weaker, prompting drug users to use it in larger amounts. To read the original story by RFE/RL's Idel.Realities, click here.
