For the first time, one of Australia’s drug-checking services has detected the highly potent synthetic opioid fentanyl. Experts are monitoring the situation, given the devastating impacts of the drug overseas.
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00:00Chemists at Canberra's drug testing service found the potentially deadly drug alongside heroin in a sample of brown powder presented for checking over the weekend.
00:12When we analysed it on site we found paracetamol, caffeine, but also indications that it contained a potent opioid called fentanyl.
00:21The sample was discarded by the owner of the drugs when they were told about the result.
00:26Free and confidential drug testing has been underway in Canberra for two years.
00:30It's one of just two services like it in the country.
00:33The other is in Brisbane.
00:35And this is the first time it's detected fentanyl.
00:38Fentanyl is estimated to be 50 times more potent than heroin, around 100 times more potent than morphine.
00:45So finding these very potent drugs in the drug market is concerning.
00:49Not only is it strong, it's fast acting.
00:52The time to intervene with an overdose is very short, it can be as little as two minutes.
00:57Advocates are urging drug users to have their drugs tested and to get familiar with naloxone, a medicine which can reverse overdoses.
01:05It's available free of charge without prescription at pharmacies and of course don't use alone.
01:10While data is scarce on how much fentanyl is circulating in Australia and it's not yet believed to be widespread,
01:16authorities have made some seizures of the drug at the border and it has been linked to some overdose deaths.
01:22Experts are keeping a close eye on the situation here, given its impact overseas and changes to the global heroin market,
01:29with less production out of Afghanistan.
01:31It's one of the drugs that's causing the opioid epidemic in North America.
01:36In some cities it went from not really detecting fentanyl to almost predominantly fentanyl on the market
01:41in a number of months with absolutely devastating overdose results as a consequence.
01:46So this recent detection does make us think we are at risk of being in a similar situation.
01:51A warning to stay alert before there's cause for alarm.