Heroin found in expected ‘cocaine’ sample23 Jul 2026ACTCocaine Heroin Opioids StimulantsA white rock sample expected to contain cocaine was found to contain heroin and no cocaine. This is the 2nd time this month an expected cocaine sample presented at CanTEST was found to be heroin. What does this mean? In recent weeks, both NSW Health and VIC Health have released public drug warnings relating to heroin being present in drugs sold as cocaine and methamphetamine.Read notification
Heroin found in expected ‘cocaine’ sample10 Jul 2026ACTCocaine Heroin Opioids StimulantsA white powder sample expected to contain cocaine was found to contain heroin and no cocaine. What does this mean? In recent weeks, both NSW Health and VIC Health have released public drug warnings relating to heroin being present in drugs sold as cocaine and methamphetamine. People consuming cocaine should be aware of the signs of opioid overdose, and usersRead notification
Heroin found in methamphetamine and cocaine products across Victoria1 Jul 2026VICAmphetamines Cocaine Heroin Opioids StimulantsHeroin is an opioid that can produce life-threatening toxic effects in very small amounts Death and serious harms from heroin overdose have occurred after use of cocaine and methamphetamine in Victoria. One person has died and multiple people in four separate incidents across Victoria have required emergency care because they experienced heroin overdose after using what they thought was cocaineRead notification
Caffeine, chloroquine, ketamine, & heroin found in ‘oxycodone’ sample1 Jun 2026ACTDissociatives Heroin Ketamine Opioids OxycodoneA yellow powder sample expected to contain oxycodone was instead found to contain caffeine, chloroquine, ketamine, 6-MAM, acetylcodeine and heroin. No oxycodone was detected. Effects This combination in a single sample could be particularly unpredictable, with an increased risk of overdose: Heroin & ketamine are both sedating. Heroin’s a depressant that suppresses breathing and ketamine can increase sedation and dissociation.Read notification
Heroin found in cocaine products across Melbourne22 May 2026VICCocaine Heroin Opioids StimulantsHeroin is an opioid that can produce life-threatening toxic effects – especially if you don’t usually use opioids Three people in separate incidents have recently required emergency care because they experienced heroin overdose after using what they thought was cocaine. Specialised blood tests showed evidence of heroin as well as cocaine, suggesting that heroin is likely to have been mixed into cocaine products (‘adulteration’).Read notification
Fentanyl found in heroin sample8 May 2026ACTFentanyl Heroin OpioidsTwo brown powder samples expected to contain heroin were found to contain fentanyl, phenacetin, paracetamol, heroin (6% in one sample, 10% in the other), and fluorofentanyl. The samples were sourced locally (ACT region). What does this mean? Fentanyl carries the risk of fatal, opioid-like overdose, estimated to be between 50 and 100 times stronger than morphine and significantly more potentRead notification