Three friends die within days of each other ‘after taking fake valium linked to hundreds of deaths’
Friends have since said the women may have actually taken fake valium and a mixed heroin substance, sold as Valium
THREE friends tragically died within days of each other after taking fake valium pills which have been linked to hundreds of deaths, it is thought.
In just ten days all three young women were dead after reportedly taking the drugs.
Young mum Kirsty Gilchrist, 29, died at home in Scotland on June 9, Natasha McCann, 26, died a week later and Hannah McNocher, 20, died in hospital on June 19.
All three were from the same town of Renfrew.
They are all said to have taken what they thought was the drug diazepam - also known as valium - but they could have ingested a fake which is more harmful.
Friends told the Daily Record the women are thought to have mixed heroin substitute Subutex with the fake pills, which may have contained etizolam or other deadly chemicals.
A source told the paper: "Natasha and Kirsty had battled problems but they seemed to have turned their lives around recently and their deaths came as a total shock.
"They were both doting mums and had so much to live for.
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"They were Facebook friends with Hannah, who knew so many young people in the area. The deaths came so thick and fast that people are in a state of shock."
Police Scotland are treating the deaths as unexplained and are currently waiting for the results of a post mortem examination and toxicology tests.
It has been reported that in a recent fortnight nine people who took the fake pills died in Ayrshire, while the fake pills are said to have been linked with hundreds of deaths in Scotland.
The Daily Record reports that the fake valium tablets can be bought for 10p online and are widely available in the Renfrew area.
Chief Superintendent Barry McEwan said: "Drug trends continually evolve as criminal networks attempt to maximise their profits.
"Together with our national and local partners we are working to highlight potential risks and where necessary, work to support those impacted by the harms caused by benzodiazepines.
"Benzodiazepine abuse is a significant problem in Scotland and the risk of having a negative reaction to these type of drugs is amplified when they are taken with alcohol or other drugs.
"When a drug user purchases 'street valium' illegally, there is no quality control and they have no way of knowing what is in the pills. Our message is quite clear.
"There is no safe way to take these pills."
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