ACT - The Know - Page 2

Filter alerts by

State or Territory

Drug Type

Date Range

Caffeine, chloroquine, ketamine, & heroin found in ‘oxycodone’ sample

A 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

Fentanyl found in heroin sample

Two 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 potent

Read notification

Rilmazafone found in ‘benzo’ pill

Benzodiazepines

A round green pill with an ’86’ press on one side and a stylised ‘R’ logo on the other (resembling a generic alprazolam tablet prescribed in the US), expected to contain a benzodiazepine, was found to be a counterfeit, containing rilmazafone. Rilmazafone is a benzodiazepine prodrug, meaning the body converts the substance into a benzo after consumption (rilmazolam). Because of

Read notification

N-ethylhexedrone found in cocaine sample

A white powder sample, expected to contain cocaine, was found to contain N-ethylhexedrone and no cocaine. What does this mean? N-ethylhexedrone is a synthetic cathinone and can produce stimulating effects including wakefulness, drive, talkativeness, euphoria, sensory enhancement, insomnia, cardiovascular strain, and anxiety. It can take effect quickly (within minutes if insufflated/snorted and up to an hour if taken orally) and

Read notification

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

Read notification

Ethylflualprazolam found in expected ‘alprazolam’ pills

Benzodiazepines

Two ‘alprazolam’ bar pills were brought into CanTEST for testing, expected to contain alprazolam (‘Xanax’). One pill was a yellow bar-press printed with RO39. The second pill was a white bar-press printed with ‘XANAX’ on the front and ’02’ on the reverse. Neither of these samples contained any alprazolam (‘Xanax’). What does this mean? Benzos are drugs typically used to

Read notification