There is a growth in the use of synthetic drugs due to their easy transportation and concealment, said Desislav Mitev, head of a sector in the territorial directorate of the Customs Agency in Ruse.

According to the representative of the Ruse directorate, an extremely small amount of fentanyl, for example, can be carried in the pocket of a garment and easily reach a neighbourhood or even an entire city like Ruse. "There is an increasingly frequent use of different forms of fentanyl and reduced intake of heroin. The age of users of similar substances is also lower," Dr. Stanislav Ivanov, head of the addiction treatment department at the city's Mental Health Center added.

The doctor pointed out that the intake of synthetic drugs affects both the addict's psyche and various internal organs. “These designer drugs come to us in the emergency room in the form of anorexia, liver disease, etc. Many of the people cannot be saved", he added.