The Number One Dance Music Radio the number one dance music radio
When the music abruptly stopped at a Sydney dance party, Caitlyn Dooley immediately sensed something was terribly wrong. The former drug user, who was assisting at the rave in January, was helping unwell partygoers when organisers announced the presence of a dangerous drug causing multiple overdoses in the crowd.
“People had consumed a substance sold as MDMA, but it resulted in extreme opioid overdoses,” Caitlyn shared with 60 Minutes.
These pink pills, initially believed to be MDMA, were actually laced with a highly potent synthetic opioid called nitazenes.
The pills, falsely marketed as MDMA, were found to contain nitazenes, a synthetic opioid that is a thousand times stronger than morphine. These substances, produced in Chinese laboratories, are being smuggled into Western countries and mixed into various illicit drugs.
“This pill had no MDMA; it was pure nitazenes and was being sold to young people as MDMA,” Caitlyn explained. “It was essentially poison.”
Originally developed in the 1950s, nitazenes were abandoned due to their extreme danger to humans. However, they have now resurfaced in the illicit drug market, appearing in MDMA, cocaine, counterfeit painkillers, and even vapes.
Australia has reported twenty deaths and numerous overdoses linked to nitazenes, prompting authorities to increase their vigilance.
In 2021, Claire Rocha’s son Dylan believed he was injecting heroin when he overdosed on nitazenes. “He thought he was safe with the amount he took, but he wasn’t,” Claire lamented. “He was killed by a silent killer neither of us knew existed.”
Dylan was among the first to die from nitazenes in the UK, where six people now die weekly from overdoses involving this substance.
Dr Marianne Jauncey, who runs a safe injecting room in Sydney’s Kings Cross, warned that the spread of nitazenes in Australia could lead to a dramatic rise in deaths. “It’s terrifying,” she told 60 Minutes. “If nitazenes infiltrate our drug supply, fatalities will skyrocket.”
Dr Jauncey emphasised the importance of naloxone, a medication that can reverse opioid overdoses. Under federal government funding, naloxone is now available for free at participating pharmacies.
“Naloxone can save your life during an opioid overdose,” Dr Jauncey stressed. “It needs to be as common as a household item, available in every glove box and kitchen cupboard.”
The threat posed by nitazenes has reignited the debate over pill testing, with advocates urging the government to take immediate action. “Why must testing only occur after the event?” Dr Jauncey questioned. “Providing people with information about what they’re consuming is crucial.”
Claire Rocha continues to mourn her son and hopes his death serves as a stark warning. “People believe they are safe, but they are not,” she cautioned.
Thank you to 60 Minutes Australia for highlighting these dangers, remember be safe out there and if you are wanting to take drugs at events, know your dealer and know your gear!
Written by: HMR
60 minutes Australia clublife Drug Awareness Drug Warning
Sign up for the latest Housemasters news and updates!
By signing up, you understand and agree that your data will be collected and used subject to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
© 2024 Housemasters Radio.
Post comments (0)