A potent opioid detected in Canberra for the first time in September 2024 carries a high risk of overdose, warn chemists from The Australian National University (ANU) and drug checking service CanTEST.

ANU expert Professor Malcolm McLeod, co-author of a new paper about the detection published in Drug Testing and Analysis, said the illicit drug belongs to a group of synthetic opioids known as nitazenes.

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A synthetic opioid detected in Canberra by chemists at the Research School of Chemistry and CanTEST (Photo: Jamie Kidston/ANU).

“This is one of the most potent drugs of its class ever detected. It is 1,000 times stronger than morphine and 90 times stronger than fentanyl,” he said.

“This high level of potency significantly increases the risk of a fatal overdose.” 

The sample was acquired from the dark web and brought to the CanTEST facility expected to be oxycodone.

“When we tested it on site, we instead saw evidence of a nitazene-like compound. On the strength of that information the client discarded the substance,” Professor McLeod said.

“We took it back to the lab and within 24 hours we’d worked out what it was and relayed that information to ACT Health and the community.

“We’re picking up these drugs early, hopefully before we see overdose-related harms.”

This was the third nitazene-related community notice issued by CanTEST, and the second counterfeit oxycodone notice.

“All nitazenes carry a risk of fatal overdose, especially when they are not what was expected,” Professor McLeod said.

“We’d urge people to test their drugs and avoid using alone.

“There is an antidote available called naloxone - but several doses may be required in a case like this where you’re dealing with increased potency. And call 000 immediately if you suspect someone has overdosed.”  

The CanTEST Health and Drug Checking Service is operated by Directions Health Services in partnership with Pill Testing Australia and the Canberra Alliance for Harm Minimisation and Advocacy, and is funded by ACT Health.