Sydney drug deaths prompts coroner warning

The NSW coroner has issued an urgent warning over a corrupted batch of heroin believed to have caused the deaths of 13 people.

State Coroner Michael Barnes made the warning following the deaths which occurred across Sydney between May 2 and June 3.

"A spike in heroin overdoses over a short period suggests an unusually strong or corrupted supply being sold in Sydney," he said.

"As State Coroner, I deal with hundreds of deaths each year and it is part of my role to make recommendations that can save lives."

The coroner said the death toll reinforces the need to highlight the dangers of the illicit drug.

"Street level heroin is rarely pure," he said. "[It] can sometimes be cut with drugs or compounds that can kill you in one dose.

"The message is clear: if you're thinking of experimenting with illicit drugs — just don't do it," he said.