Heroin found in cocaine and “ice”, and lines can be fatal

Authorities in New southern Wales AND Victoria warned the public against dead cases heroin Overdose after people thought they took cocaine Or methamphetamine.

We know that the problem is also essential Other parts of Australia. This is particularly disturbing, because heroin can cause an overdose of life -threatening opioids, especially in inexperienced heroin who snorts it.

Our new research He sheds more featherlight on what is happening to people who accidentally took heroin, thinking it was something different.

What we did and what we found

We are part NSW health program This helps to find and react quickly to illegal and recreational drug poisoning and trends. The program is a cooperation between many government health services, including hospitals, NSW Trusons Center AND laboratories.

We searched our database and found 34 cases of opioid overdose after people considered a stimulating drug between January 2022 and June 2024. In total, 19 people thought that they were taking cocaine and 15 methamphetamines.

Most of these 34 people had a stern overdose of opioids requiring treatment by paramedics and in the hospital. Unfortunately, two people died.

Heroin was an opioid in all cases in which we tested it specially, and we suspect all matters.

Cases occurred throughout the NSW, but most of the cases (68%) took place in Sydney. Over the past eight months of our study, we have identified many cases of each month, which may indicate that these cases are becoming more and more common.

In the United States, drugs such as cocaine and methamphetamine are sometimes mixed with a sturdy opioid drug fentanyl. This unintentional employ of opioids is causing many deaths in the USA. But we did not find any evidence that Fentanyl was the cause of overdose we studied.

What happens when you accidentally take heroin?

Cocaine and methamphetamine are stimulating drugs. These are drugs that make a person feel more energetic and confident, and her students become greater.

They have the opposite effect on heroin, which is an opioid and calming. Heroin and other opioids make a person feel relaxed and often sleepy with smaller students.

When overdose, opioids cause loss of consciousness, and breathing a person slows down or even stops, which is life -threatening. Demanding overdose of opioids without quick treatment is fatal.

If you expect to take cocaine or methamphetamine, but in fact it is heroin or has heroin in it, overdose is very likely. This is especially true if you usually don’t take opioids or employ it for the first time. People can overdose as diminutive as lines.

Why is this happening?

Sometimes people get a different drug than they wanted. This can happen because the drug is mixed with something else or converted.

It can happen Many reasonsincluding during production and distribution. This can happen intentionally or inadvertently by the seller or people using the medicine.

One of the main reasons is that sometimes you can’t say heroin except cocaine or methamphetamine, looking at them. So if the drugs are mixed or converted, you can not always say until you take them.

What can we do about it?

Opioid death can be prevented. Government and social groups work together to respond to the problem or through Issuing drug notifications or by education Their members.

But people who take illegal or recreational drugs can reduce the risk by avoiding independent employ of drugs and making sure that one person in the group is able to get aid if needed.

Unexpected drowsiness is a reason to seek aid, not just rest. Start CPR if someone does not react and call 000.

What about Nalloxon?

Definitely, if someone experiences an overdose of opioids, give it naloxon As soon as possible.

Nalloxon is a drug that saves life that can temporarily reverse opioids. It occurs in an effortless -to -use nasal spray and as a pre -filled injection.

It is available for free and without a prescription via Nationalal Take the Naloxon program. You can also order it online and get it According to post.

Nalloxon is intended for anyone who can experience or witness opioids or an undesirable reaction.

NSW authorities recommend this For people who employ any illegal drugs, including opioids, stimulants (such as cocaine, methamphetamine and MDMA), ketamine and counterfeit pharmaceuticals, due to the risk of mixing drugs with something else or converted. Call 000, even if you gave Nalloxon.

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You can report the unexpected overdose of the poison information center from anywhere in Australia on 131 126. In an emergency in Australia, call 000.