The Victorian Pill Testing Service has detected protonitazene in a light blue, counterfeit tablet, marked ‘M30’ and sold as oxycodone

A nitazene was detected on PS-MS. Further testing was being conducted to determine that this was protonitazene.

What is protonitazene?

Protonitazene is a type of nitazene – a group of potent synthetic opioid (PSO).

Protonitazene is 200x more potent than morphine, which means it’s also much stronger than heroin and fentanyl. A very small amount can lead to overdose.

Look for signs of overdose

Signs/symptoms of overdose are similar to heroin and other opioids.

Signs to watch for:

• extreme drowsiness
• difficulty or unable to wake someone when they ‘nod off’
• shallow breathing or snoring
• cold and clammy skin
• a blue or grey tinge to lips and/or nails
• pin point pupils.

If you notice these signs in someone and are concerned, call 000 and administer naloxone if available.

See Victoria Pill Testing’s post here:

https://www.instagram.com/p/DOcgJLdDTy7/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MWhodzd1cGhpY2pvbw==

Updated 12 September 2025.