Tejal Somvanshi
Nitazenes, a group of highly dangerous synthetic opioids, have been detected in the Northern Territory for the first time, prompting urgent warnings from health authorities just weeks before Darwin’s largest music festival.
NT Health confirmed the discovery of nitazene-laced tablets on Thursday, marking a troubling expansion of these lethal substances into new Australian territories.
“Drugs seized in the NT have been found to contain nitazenes. This is the first detection of this substance in the NT,” the health department warned.
These synthetic opioids can be up to 500 times more potent than heroin, creating an extreme risk of fatal overdose even with tiny amounts. Since their emergence in Australia in 2021, nitazenes have been linked to at least 17 deaths nationwide.
While NT Health only recently identified the presence of these drugs, law enforcement has been tracking the problem for longer. In February, police arrested a 21-year-old man in Rapid Creek, Darwin, allegedly seizing 500 grams of pills containing nitazenes alongside other drugs including 3.5kg of MDMA and 16kg of cannabis.
Detective Superintendent Lee Morgan from the Drugs and Organised Crime unit told NewsWire: “We are seeing an increasing presence of nitazenes in illicit substances – these synthetic opioids are extremely potent and pose a serious risk of overdose and death.”
The timing of this discovery raises particular concerns as Darwin prepares for Bassinthegrass music festival, which drew 16,000 attendees last year. The Northern Territory currently has no pill testing services at music festivals.
Hidden danger in various forms
What makes nitazenes particularly dangerous is their appearance in multiple forms and frequent misrepresentation as other substances. Australians have unknowingly consumed nitazenes in what they thought was MDMA, ketamine, heroin, cocaine, GHB, and counterfeit prescription medications.
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These substances have been detected in tablets, powders, nasal sprays, and even vape liquids. They can appear as white powder, crystals, or brown/yellow powder, making visual identification nearly impossible.
The case of 18-year-old Melbourne carpentry apprentice Jetson Gordon highlights the deadly consequences. Gordon died in 2022 after taking pills he believed were oxycodone purchased online. The nitazene variant that killed him was 43 times stronger than fentanyl and 883 times stronger than morphine.
Growing national concern
Nitazenes are not just an NT problem. Federal police data shows 64 seizures of these drugs at Australian borders between January 2023 and September 2024, with most shipments originating from the UK, Canada, and Hong Kong.
Research published in the Medical Journal of Australia in February confirms nitazenes are now “an established feature of the Australian illicit drug market.” Health authorities across the country have issued 17 public alerts about different types of nitazenes up to the end of 2024.
Some experts point to global drug market disruptions as a potential driver of increased synthetic opioid production. The Medical Journal of Australia research notes: “There is concern that synthetic opioid production may increase due to recent political changes in Afghanistan, a key producer of heroin, which have resulted in a marked decrease in global opium supply.”
Overdose risk and response
The extreme potency of nitazenes means there is no safe dose. Signs of overdose include pinpoint pupils, drowsiness, loss of consciousness, slow breathing, and blue or grey skin or lips.
While naloxone can temporarily reverse opioid overdoses, the high potency of nitazenes may require multiple doses, and immediate medical help remains essential even after naloxone administration.
Medical experts recommend expanding access to naloxone, particularly at music festivals where nitazenes might be present in substances users believe are non-opioids.
Nitazenes were originally developed in the 1950s as an alternative to morphine but never received approval for medical use due to their dangerous potency. Their emergence in illicit drug markets represents a serious and evolving public health threat that authorities are racing to address.
