Latest news with #synthetic opioid
The Guardian
3 days ago
- The Guardian
Sydney man arrested for allegedly selling vapes ‘supercharged' with dangerous synthetic opioid
A Sydney man has become the first person in Australia to be arrested for allegedly selling vapes 'supercharged' with a dangerous and highly addictive synthetic opioid. Police announced the arrest of 20-year-old Sam Al Roubaye and seizure of 2.1kg of nitazene after raiding a home on Friday at Revesby in western Sydney. Police alleged Al Roubaye had been running a sophisticated distribution operation of nitazene since March, police said on Wednesday. Vials were allegedly marketed as 'supercharged' and intended for use in vapes. Sign up: AU Breaking News email The nitazene bust comes as some of Australia's toughest penalties for selling illegal tobacco and vapes are to be introduced into NSW parliament on Wednesday. 'Nitazenes are highly addictive, incredibly potent and can be lethal,' NSW Police drug squad Cmdr John Watson said. Al Roubaye was refused bail at Parramatta local court on a commercial drug supply charge after police allegedly found vape hardware, vials containing 300 grams of nitazene and $7,180 in cash during a search on Friday. Two imitation firearms, an electrical weapon and a safe were also seized. The safe was opened on Monday, revealing 1.8kg more of nitazene. '(The arrest) demonstrates a disturbing evolution in the illicit drug trade, but our squad is constantly adapting to meet these emerging threats head-on,' Det Supt Watson said. NSW Health's chief addiction medicine specialist, Hester Wilson, warned synthetic opioids including nitazene were extremely dangerous. She urged those using recreational drugs to carry naloxone, a life-saving medicine that can reverse an opioid overdose. It is available free at some pharmacies. Under the proposed NSW restrictions, health inspectors will be granted substantial powers to close premises found to be in breach of the new rules. Sign up to Breaking News Australia Get the most important news as it breaks after newsletter promotion Steep increases in the federal tax on legal tobacco had fuelled massive growth in the hidden market and current punishments were not dissuading anyone, the premier, Chris Minns, said. 'I won't allow NSW to be a dumping ground,' he said on Wednesday. The use of nitazenes has been recognised by medical professionals as a growing problem. The NSW health department last year issued a public warning about the danger of synthetic opioids after a cluster of drug overdoses linked to the synthetic opioid in the Nepean Blue Mountains area. Consumption of nitazenes is often unwitting, with the opioids illegally sold as, or mixed into, recreational drugs including methamphetamines, cocaine, heroin, ketamine, oxycodone, synthetic cannabinoids, MDMA, GHB and counterfeit pharmaceuticals, as well as in vaping devices. Nitazenes have been linked to more than 200 deaths in North America and Europe between 2019 and 2023.
CBC
21-07-2025
- Health
- CBC
Harm reduction expert shares what to do in event of overdose following discovery of phenazolam
Phenazolam is a powerful synthetic opioid that can be disguised as Xanax or Dilaudid. It killed a teenager in Mount Pearl earlier this year, and it has harm reduction experts worried. Courtney Davis of Thrive shares what you can do if you experience someone overdosing.
