ACT Policing is warning of potentially lethal illicit drugs circulating in Canberra after attending multiple suspected drug overdoses, with four deaths reported in the past two months, including a man and a woman in separate incidents yesterday, 29 August.
While the exact cause of the overdoses is yet to be determined, police suspect high drug purity levels or the addition of synthetic opioids, such as fentanyl or nitazene, may be responsible.
These dangerous synthetic opioids carry a high risk of addiction, breathing difficulties or respiratory failure, and death.
ACT Policing Detective acting Superintendent Dave Craft said synthetic opioids have been identified in the ACT as recently as May this year.
“While police are focused on disrupting drug suppliers who deliberately cause harm and misery to our community, we want to raise awareness on this issue and encourage illicit drug users to engage in harm minimisation practices and protect themselves from these harmful substances currently in circulation,” Det. A/Supt. Craft said.
“There is no safe drug use, however we understand drug addiction is a health issue. In light of recent overdoses that police have attended we are urging those who are using drugs to do this as safely as possible.
“Police have responded to incidents where people have lost consciousness outside in the middle of the night and haven’t been found until the next morning. We don’t want to see more preventable deaths in our community.”
Drugs can be tested at CanTEST, which provides free and confidential chemical analysis of pills and drugs intended for personal use, as well as tailored information and harm reduction advice.
There is also a range of support services and advice for those using drugs from Canberra drug treatment organisations.
