PROTONITAZENE, a dangerous synthetic opioid, has been linked to suspected deaths and overdose in several Australian states.
The toxic drug has been detected in South Australia, Queensland, Victoria and Western Australia.
Health officials said it has been mixed with other illicit drugs, making it difficult for authorities to identify where it truly came from.
The drug can cause lethal toxic effects even at very low doses according to South Australia’s acting chief public health officer.
Meanwhile, the Drug and Alcohol Services South Australia said the illicit drug is three times stronger than fentanyl and almost 130 times stronger than morphine.
It has been linked to one death and possibly two more in Adelaide and Queensland while three more have been hospitalized for drug overdose.
Health authorities warned that even regular users of the drug have high chance of overdose and death.
Recreational users were strongly advised to have access to a reversal drug known as naloxone which can reverse the toxic effects of the deadly opioid.
Naloxone is available at pharmacies with no prescription and at no cost.
