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Protonitazene found in heroin sample

A white powder sample, expected to contain heroin, was found to contain protonitazene instead with a trace amount of heroin. The sample was sourced locally (ACT region). What does this mean? Protonitazene is a highly potent synthetic opioid, estimated to be more than 200 times stronger than morphine. All nitazenes carry a risk of fatal overdose – even in small

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First report of 5-cyano isotodesnitazene in Queensland

5-cyano-isotodesnitazene (isotocyanozene) has recently been found in toxicology and powder samples, in South-East Queensland. There is limited potency or toxicity data available on 5-cyano-isotodesnitazene globally as it a novel nitazene only recently detected for the first time in Australia. Nitazenes are very strong synthetic opioids that work like heroin or fentanyl and could produce life-threatening toxicity in small amounts. The

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Isotocyanozene found in ‘benzo’ sample

A capsule filled with an off-white powder expected to contain an unknown benzo was found to contain the novel nitazene, isotocyanozene (5-cyano-isotodesnitazene). This is the second detection of isotocyanozene at a drug collection service in Australia, with the first being in late September 2025, also at CanTEST in Canberra. There is no readily available data on isotocyanozene globally. Effects The

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Confirmed detection of N-pyrrolidino protonitazene and protonitazene in Queensland

There has been a recent case of N-pyrrolidino protonitazene (also known as protonitazepyne) and protonitazene detected in toxicology and tablet samples, in South-East Queensland. N-pyrrolidino protonitazene and protonitazene are very strong synthetic opioids that work like heroin or fentanyl and can produce life-threatening toxicity in small amounts. The appearance of the sample is a pale yellow, bear shaped pressed pill

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Metonitazene and Protonitazene found in ‘opioid’ capsule

A CAPSULE FILLED WITH WHITE POWDER expected to contain an unknown opioid was found to contain the highly potent synthetic opioids metonitazene and protonitazene. While both metonitazene and protonitazene have each been detected separately at CanTEST, this is the first detection of a combination of these nitazenes in a single sample by drug checking service in Australia. Both metonitazene and

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Isotocyanozene found in ‘opioid’ capsule

A CAPSULE FILLED WITH WHITE POWDER expected to contain an unknown opioid was found to contain the novel nitazene isotocyanozene (5-cyano-isotodesnitazene). While nitazenes have been detected in several parts of Australia, including at CanTEST in Canberra, this is the first detection of isotocyanozene at a drug collection service in Australia. There is no readily available data on isotocyanozene globally. Effects

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