Heroin & other opioids - The Know

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Nitazenes causing overdose in people who have taken fake oxycodone tablets

Benzodiazepines

Heroin & other opioids

Two people have been hospitalised in NSW with severe opioid overdose caused by isotonitazepyne (also known as N-pyrrolidino isotonitazene). The fake oxycodone tablets have been described as yellow unmarked round tablets, sold as ‘OxyContin 40 mg’. A similar yellow fake oxycodone tablet with the same nitazene was recently detected by CanTEST in Canberra. Last Updated: 26 November 2025 Know the risks Effects

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Fake oxycodone tablets containing a strong nitazene opioid

Heroin & other opioids

CheQpoint, a state-funded drug checking service has detected a nitazene in counterfeit oxycodone tablets. The site where the detection was made is Bowen Hills, Brisbane. The counterfeit tablets are round, blue, and bear M 30 markings. Nitazenes are a group of very strong opioids that work like heroin or fentanyl and can produce life-threatening toxicity in small amounts. Toxic Effects

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Multiple heroin overdoses following use of cocaine

Heroin & other opioids

Five people were recently admitted to hospital with heroin overdose after using what they believed to be cocaine in Sydney Know the risks Effects to look out for Unexpected drowsiness, pinpoint pupils, loss of consciousness, slow breathing/snoring, and skin turning blue/grey after using a stimulant (for example cocaine, methamphetamine, or MDMA). Getting help If you or your friends see the

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Cocaine found in heroin sample

Heroin & other opioids

An off-white clumpy powder expected to be heroin was found to be a near-equal mix of heroin and cocaine. What does this mean? While the expectation was heroin, we note that NSW Health released a public drug warning on 13 Sep, ‘Four heroin overdoses following use of cocaine’, and this sample’s packaging is (arguably) more common for cocaine rather than

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Fentanyl found in brown sample

Heroin & other opioids

A brown sample brought to CanTEST for testing was found to contain paracetamol, caffeine, heroin, 6-MAM, and the potent synthetic opioid fentanyl. This is the first time fentanyl has been detected at CanTEST Effects– Fentanyl carries the risk of fatal overdose. Fentanyl is known to cause an opioid-like overdose (lowered/loss of consciousness, person may seem like sleeping/snoring, tiny/pinpoint pupils, discoloured

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Four heroin overdoses following use of cocaine

Heroin & other opioids

Two people have died and another two admitted to hospital with heroin overdose after using what they believed to be cocaine in Sydney. Know the risks Effects to look out for Unexpected drowsiness, pinpoint pupils, loss of consciousness, slow breathing/snoring, and skin turning blue/grey after using a stimulant (for example cocaine, methamphetamine, or MDMA). Getting help If you or your friends see

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