Cocaine is being contaminated with powerful opioids called nitazenes—why it’s a dangerous mix

People who use illicit drugs recreationally may unknowingly be exposed to nitazenes. Credit: Sebastian Ervi/Pexels Earlier this month, drugs sold as cocaine in Melbourne were found to be contaminated with a powerful group of opioids, known as nitazenes. These new synthetic drugs were also the suspected cause of four people being hospitalized in Sydney in May. And in April, nitazenes were found in drugs used by around 20 people who overdosed in outer Sydney. So what are nitazenes, why are they so dangerous, and how can we minimize the harms Read More