NSW Health has issued a warning about the severe dangers of nitazene after several people in Sydney were hospitalized due to opioid overdoses caused by mistakenly using this potent synthetic opioid.
Nitazenes have been discovered in various forms, including vapes, counterfeit tablets, and drugs falsely sold as heroin or MDMA. These synthetic opioids are significantly more potent than heroin and can easily lead to overdose or death.
Symptoms of an opioid overdose include pinpoint pupils, drowsiness, and slowed breathing, all of which can be life-threatening. NSW Health strongly recommends carrying naloxone, a medication that can temporarily reverse the effects of an opioid overdose, to prevent fatalities.