Police will target dealers, Commissioner vows after 'heartbreaking' drug deaths

Two 18-year-old women and two men, aged 18 and 21, who were all found unresponsive at addresses over the weekend.

The woman were both newly-arrived students at Newcastle University and found at the same address in Richardson Road, Newcastle, on Saturday and Sunday. Both are believed to have taken ketamine.

Officers were called to Coach Road Estate in Washington on Saturday following reports of an 18-year-old man falling ill. He died shortly afterwards.

On Sunday morning a 21-year-old male student at Northumbria University was taken to hospital after falling ill at an address in Melbourne Street, Newcastle, and died shortly afterwards.

Both men are believed to have taken MDMA, but the Washington teenager was not a student and police say it is too early to say whether the cases are linked.

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Kim McGuinness said: "My sympathies are with the families coping with this horrible news. These deaths are a terrible tragedy that will have shocked our region.

"These are young people with their whole lives in front of them, and to see that potential taken away like this is heartbreaking.

“Northumbria Police will be taking action and warning others about the dangers of illegal drug use, and I know they will be proactive in targeting those who supply these drugs.

"These are difficult times, and we need to continue to support each other in our region."

In a press conference held with Northumbria Police and Public Health at Newcastle City Council, Newcastle University Vice-Chancellor Professor Chris Day said: "Both universities are devastated by the death of these young people - two students from Newcastle, one from our neighbouring Northumbria University, and a further young person in the region."I want to offer my deepest condolences to their families, friends and everyone who knew them."At Newcastle University, we were looking forward to welcoming two bright young students to our community who had such a promising future ahead of them."I would just like to say once again to the families how deeply sorry we all are."

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