Deadly Drug 10x Stronger Than Fentanyl Found in Australia
- admin928749
- 36 minutes ago
- 2 min read
The drug is called nitazene, a synthetic opioid that’s recently been found in fake prescription pills in NSW, Queensland, Victoria, and the ACT. According to the Australian Federal Police (AFP), this stuff is seriously dangerous and can lead to overdoses, unconsciousness, breathing issues, blue-tinged skin, and an erratic heartbeat. In short, it can be fatal.
“If you choose to take it, you are gambling with your life,” said Acting Assistant Commissioner Paula Hudson from the AFP. She stressed that people who use counterfeit painkillers have no idea what’s really in them — and that’s exactly the problem.
What’s especially alarming is that nitazenes are being disguised as common prescription meds like oxycodone. Between April 2024 and February 2025, police seized pills that looked almost identical to legitimate painkillers, but testing revealed they were actually laced with this super-potent synthetic opioid.
It doesn’t stop at pills either — nitazenes can show up in powders, tablets, nasal sprays, and even vape liquids.
Adding to the risk, even frontline workers like paramedics, nurses, and police officers could be in danger just from coming into contact with the substance while treating or handling someone who’s taken it.
Most of the nitazenes seized so far have been traced back to Canada, the UK, and Hong Kong — there’s no sign yet that it’s being produced locally in Australia, but it’s definitely getting in.
So if you’re thinking about using any street drugs or unverified pharmaceuticals — this is a major red flag. You just don’t know what’s in them, and the risk is now higher than ever.
More updates to come on AusNewsLanka.
Comments