A white powder sold in Melbourne as cocaine actually contains a potentially lethal opioid that is more than 100 times more potent than heroin, Victoria’s health department has warned.Authorities are seizing more cocaine than ever – yet Australia’s appetite for the drug continues apace.The Department of Health said a white powder sold as cocaine that contained the opioid had caused “recent serious harms in Melbourne”.
“Cocaine and protonitazene are very different substances. Cocaine produces stimulant effects, whereas protonitazene produces sedative effects and may lead to opioid overdose.” In 2023, the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission conservatively estimated the nation consumed more than four tonnes per annum.
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