Over 100 drug-related deaths ignored by authorities
Bulgaria faces a sharp rise in drug-related fatalities, with health officials documenting more than 100 suspected opiate deaths during the past 18 months, primarily linked to fentanyl. Historical records show approximately a dozen such cases annually in previous years. Yulia Georgieva, who manages the Pink House day center for individuals with opioid dependency in Sofia, revealed that 44 clients from her facility alone have died since early 2023, compared with just 13 deaths across the entire 2021-2023 period. Field workers connected to the program estimate similar losses among additional clients they serve.
Georgieva attributes part of this crisis to the unavailability of naloxone nasal spray, which she notes has near-perfect success rates in reversing overdoses but remains unregistered domestically. Emergency responders carry only injectable naloxone, creating dangerous delays for victims who stop breathing before ambulances arrive. She also highlighted that postmortem examinations rarely occur unless families specifically request and fund them, meaning most drug-related deaths get classified under generic diagnoses like respiratory failure rather than overdose.
A 2024 survey of 480 drug users in Sofia found 12.7 percent tested positive for HIV antibodies and 63.5 percent carried hepatitis C antibodies. Despite these alarming statistics, both the national anti-drug strategy and the HIV prevention program remain stalled in government review.
