The family of a ‘kind’ and ‘cheerful’ Ramsgate man, despite the many challenges he faced in life, have questioned whether synthetic opioids were responsible for his death and are calling for improvements to post-mortem procedures to provide clarity and, ultimately, help save lives.
Antony Irvin was found deceased in his Trove Court flat on September 16th last year. He was 52 years old.
The dad-of-one had been a heroin user and had taken methadone for many years. He was supported by substance abuse charity The Forward Trust.
His family say morphine in his system was at the ‘very lowest end of the range that could be considered fatal.’
His sister Nicola said it seems “ implausible” that his death would have been caused by the level of heroin recorded.
Instead, the family believe Antony died due to synthetic opioids, such as nitazenes, which are 50–100 times more potent than morphine and have been found mixed in with drugs such as heroin.
But, synthetic opioids degrade in the blood and this means any delay in blood tests – such as there was with Antony’s post-mortem- results in the presence being undetectable.
‘How and why may never be clear’
Following an inquest into Antony’s death at Maidstone today (May 14) Nicola said: “We, as a family, have waited seven months for more clarity in this matter and have not received any due, in part, to the delays in blood samples being taken and in them being analysed.
“Therefore, the how and the why may never be clear. It seems to me to be important that this is acknowledged, as it could support the case that protocol and standard practice needs to be changed.
“There is growing evidence as to an on-going and increasing public health crises in relation to synthetic opioids being imported into this country. Law makers and law enforcers need as much data as possible to halt this trade and save lives.
“Young people are dying from taking a party drug (often for the first time) mixed with synthetic opioids, seasoned long term drug addicts are overdosing on amounts of heroin they have previously managed well.
“Of course, long term drug addicts are a harder demographic to muster public concern for but their lives matter too, their families often remaining hopeful that, with enough care, time and support, they will be able to leave their addictions behind them and lead fulfilling lives. My brother didn’t get that time.”
Nicola says she wants to highlight the shortfalls in the process of post-mortems in such circumstances and hopes this will lead to better funding and support to make improvements to the service.
She added: “It is my hope that this could lead, in the future, to more time, care and consideration being given to post-mortem analysis and data collection, and that this will play its part in affecting a wider change that will, hopefully, save some lives in the future.
“I am left with many questions. I am not, of course, a Coroner, but I do know that my brother was a seasoned and experienced drug user – he had taken methadone for years and was trusted by the charity that supported him, Forward Trust, to do so.
“The morphine seems to have been very lowest end of the range that could be considered fatal. It seems implausible to me that this amount of heroin would kill him.
“So, I am left wondering what was chemically responsible for his death and my understanding of how long it took for the blood test to be conducted and the rate at which synthetic opioids degrade in the blood means that the ‘how’ of my brother’s death may never be clear.
“(We understand that) four other people died in Ramsgate of unexpected overdoses at around the same time as my brother. So, we need to start joining the dots because these people’s lives matter.
“People are dying who should not be dying. People in the future will die unnecessarily if the dots are not joined up.
“My brother deserves dignity in death, and we, as a family, deserve clarity, but mostly other people deserve for this not to be how their lives end.
“The data gathered post-mortem matters, it is an essential part of stopping more deaths. My brother’s life, Antony Shaun Irvin’s life, mattered.”
Reduced service levels
The Coroner concluded Antony’s cause of death as drug-related, citing methadone and morphine. In terms of the time taken to carry out blood tests and analysis – with samples taken 20 days after death and analysis almost 13 weeks later, amounting to almost three months in total- the family noted the coroner said this was not ‘uncommon’ and referenced cuts in funding, reduced service levels and a waiting list.
The family say this points to problems in post-mortem processes with a huge loss of data in these kind of deaths amid a “synthetic opioid epidemic.” They add that this makes it ‘difficult’ for bereaved families to get the answers they need.
The Kent and Medway Coroner Service has been contacted for further comment.
Antony’s family added: “There was standing room only at Antony’s funeral. He was well loved and widely liked, though he had his difficulties. We miss him. In death, he has been failed by this process, and his family have been denied answers. Antony deserves better than this.”
Antony was adopted by the Irvin family a short time after his first birthday.
He loved food, particularly sweet food such as ice cream and butterscotch instant whip and during his school years had a natural ability for sports, including football, cricket, squash, swimming, tennis and table tennis.
His passion, and his downfall, was cars. His sister recounted how, as a small boy, he would turn the landing into a speedway with toy cars and how, when he was older, he loved to drive fast. His dad says Antony’s first word was ‘car.’
At 18 he moved to London to take up an apprenticeship scheme, training as a support worker for elderly people. He travelled in an old car bought by his parents.
But, the government withdrew funding from the scheme after a few weeks and he drove his car into the ground. Unable to come home, he was left homeless in London – and then he stole cars and eventually ended up in prison.
It became a pattern over the years and this is where Antony’s heroin addiction began. Nicola says she believes the drug provided a “safe, warm, feeling of being a baby held safely in their mother’s arms,” something that Antony craved due to his early experiences.
Antony had two serious relationships, the first giving him a daughter who he loved deeply and the second where he also loved his partner and her children. His dad says these were what gave him the most pleasure of all in his life.
Nicola, who remembers the energy of her brother arriving into the family ‘ like a hurricane’ said: “My brother had survived so much and still had a spark of love and life that people felt from him – I have heard over and over again from people who knew him how he had a heart of gold, would do anything for anyone and never had a bad word to say about anyone.”
Dad David added: ““What I think all of us will remember Antony for is his optimism in adversity, his cheerfulness, his fundamentally kind nature, his living always in the present. Antony – we miss you.”
Nitazene deaths in Kent
Kent Police says the force is currently aware of 14 deaths forensically associated with nitazenes since 2023: two in 2023, seven in 2024, and five in 2025.
There was also a warning issued by Kent County Council and The Forward Trust on April 1 this year saying: “Kent County Council has identified a heroin supply found to be containing etonitazene as a significant factor in one death and over ten overdose incidents in Canterbury between 11 and 12 March 2026.”
However, the Canterbury case has not been forensically associated with nitazenes from exhibits tested after being seized at the scene.
The other deaths in Ramsgate have not been confirmed by police.
Overdosing due to potency
James Parker, Head of Community Services at The Forward Trust, said: “We have been seeing the use of nitazenes across all our services for over three years now, as has been reflected in the national picture around the use of nitazenes.
“As an organisation we have been working with all stakeholders in our communities such as Thanet and across the whole of Kent to raise awareness and provide specific harm reduction guidance around the specific dangers of using nitazenes due to their unpredictable potency and the high likelihood of overdose.
“We provide advice on reducing the risks of overdose; the greatest danger is always the likelihood of buying nitazenes instead of Heroin and then overdosing because of the potency of the nitazenes as opposed to the usual strength of street heroin.
“We are not absolutely certain of the reason for the current wide availability of synthetic opioids, but one common conclusion has been that their rise in availability has been driven by a reduction in the supply of opium from countries such as Afghanistan, and this has resulted in the market being saturated by synthetic drugs such as nitazenes.
“The most important driver for us as drug and alcohol treatment provider is that we raise awareness of the dangers of using nitazenes, and that we provide accurate information to our communities of the risks and dangers of using nitazenes, and also that anyone using nitazenes has at least 2 doses of Naloxone, which is used to reverse the effects of an opioid overdose, to prevent tragic deaths.”
Law enforcement operation
Kent Police says it is aware of a small, countywide increase in both seizures and drugs-related deaths that have been forensically associated with nitazenes since 2023.
A force spokesperson said: “Kent Police is committed to tackling the use of illicit drugs and drugs-related deaths and their wide-reaching impact on victims’ families and communities.
“When a death occurs that is suspected to be drugs-related, enquiries are completed to identify which substances were involved. Due to the nature of new synthetic opioids – often referred to as nitazenes – and how they react within the body, they may not be forensically identified as the cause of death in every case where their use has been suspected.
“Kent Police has seen a small, countywide increase in both seizures and drugs-related deaths that have been forensically associated with nitazenes since 2023, and is part of a national law enforcement operation, led by the NCA, in response to the emergence of these substances within the illicit drug market.
“The operation involves all UK police forces, national and international partners – including public health services, Border Force, and forensic services – and aims to stem the flow of nitazenes into the country and in turn reduce the risk to life.
“The force is not currently aware of any deaths in East Kent forensically linked to nitazenes since 2024, from exhibits tested after being seized at the scene.
“Every drugs-related death is a tragedy, and those who have been affected by the devastation caused by the misuse of substances remain at the forefront of enforcement activity.”
Researchers at Kings College say that while the National Crime Agency (NCA) reported 333 UK fatalities linked to nitazenes in 2024, they believe the number of deaths has likely been underestimated by up to a third due to degrading meaning it is missed by post-mortem toxicology tests.
In May 2025, the government said there had been more than 450 drug-related deaths over the preceding two years where synthetic opioids were present.
What are nitazenes
Nitazenes are a synthetic opioid, a man-made drug that mimics the effect of natural opioids (such as heroin).
Nitazenes come in white, or brown/yellow powder. They can also take the shape of crystalline solids, or tablets that resemble oxycodone.
They have also been found mixed with synthetic cannabinoids in herbal smoking mixtures, as well as in heroin and ketamine.
Most synthetic opioids are Class A drugs. Possession or selling can lead to a formal caution, arrest and prosecution. Possession can get you up to 7 years in prison, an unlimited fine or both. Supplying someone else, even your friends, can get you life in prison, an unlimited fine or both.
Risks and what to do
Nitazenes can cause sudden, rapid respiratory depression (breathing stops), requiring multiple doses of the overdose reversal drug, naloxone.
In case of an overdose, naloxone should be administered quickly if safe to do so. It can reverse the opioid component and may save a life. Beware that due to the strength of these drugs and other synthetic opioids, several doses of naloxone may be required.
Signs of an overdose include:
- Breathlessness or loss of consciousness.
- Limp limbs.
- Blueish tinge to lips and fingernails.
If you believe someone has taken an overdose:
- Make sure the area is safe with nothing around that the individual can hurt themselves on.
- Check for signs of an overdose – pinch the ear and gently shake their shoulders to see if they respond.
- Call 999 and ask for an ambulance.
- If you have access to naloxone, use it. This won’t harm them, and it could save a life.
- Put them in the recovery position.
- Monitor and give support to the individual until the ambulance arrives. You can administer a second dose of naloxone if needed.
- Take care of your personal safety and dispose of any unused naloxone or sharp objects.
Find The Forward Trust at: https://forwardtrust.org.uk/
