Warning against potentially deadly synthetic opioid
07 Jul 2023
Toxicology screening detected the presence of Protonitazene, the first time this drug has been found in South Australia.
The cases suggested that this drug may currently be contaminating other non-opioid illicit drugs, such as methamphetamine.
Individuals exposed to Protonitazene are at a high risk of opioid poisoning, and the drug can produce life-threatening toxic effects at low doses, especially if people use drugs while unsupervised or alone.
The danger of taking any type of recreational drug is that it is impossible to know where it has come from, what is in it and at what dose, and what affect it will have on the individual who takes it.
Protonitazene has recently been detected in Victoria, Queensland, and Western Australia, and this is the first detection in a clinical environment in South Australia.
Anyone who has taken a recreational drug and the effects are unexpected, they should present to their closest Emergency Department immediately.
Quotes attributable to RAH Duty Emergency Physician and Clinical Toxicologist, Associate Professor Sam Alfred.
We are issuing a strong warning today of the effects of Protonitazene and that these drugs are capable of causing an overdose that could be fatal.
There is currently a major concern that this drug is mixed with other illicit drugs, such as methamphetamine, and that people may be accidentally exposed to it while seeking an effect from a different drug. In this context, overdose is highly likely and death may occur.
If choosing to use illicit drugs, people should do so in an environment in which an accidental opioid overdose will be seen and noticed by others who can provide assistance.
