Victorian drug treatment bodies urge government to prepare for synthetic drug wave

Synthetic drugs, including the highly addictive and deadly fentanyl which has wreaked havoc in the US killing thousands, are sweeping through Victoria with fears the health system will be swamped.

Synthetic drugs, including the highly addictive and deadly fentanyl which has wreaked havoc in the US killing thousands, are sweeping through Victoria with fears the health system will be swamped.

According to a new report by the Victoria Alcohol and Drug Association (VAADA) and Harm Reduction Victoria, the potent synthetic opioids — which also include protonitazene, isotonitazene, metonitazene and etonitazene and are 50 times stronger than heroin — risk putting significant strains on drug treatment services that have already experienced an increased demand of 40 per cent since 2020.

Last week health authorities issued a public alert in Melbourne after protonitazene — an opioid 100 times more potent than heroin — was found in locally sold cocaine.

Police also confirmed synthetic opioids were behind an overdose that killed four people, including a teenager, at a Broadmeadows home in June.

The report calls for the government to create a “potent synthetic opioids plan” to mitigate any potential mass outbreaks and overdoses.

VAADA chief executive Chris Christoforou said treatment services in Victoria were already stretched, with waitlists of nearly 3500 people per day.

“We’re certainly worried about any new drugs that could increase demand in a system that’s already facing pressures,” he said.

“The concern about potent synthetic opioids creating a mass overdose events and the type of pressure that would put on emergency services and the public health system is something that prompted us to put this report together and call for a plan to be developed.”

According to the state coroner, Victoria has experienced at least 16 deaths due to synthetic opioid overdoses in the last three years.

In 2022, potent synthetic drugs contributed to about 80,000 fatal overdoses in the US.

It comes as the latest figures show fatal drug overdoses surged to a 10-year high in Victoria, with the coroner reporting 549 overdose deaths in 2022, with 135 of those recorded in regional Victoria.

Police at a house on Bicknell Court in Broadmeadows where four people died of a synthetic opioid overdose. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

Outside of the City of Melbourne, Brimbank had the most overdose deaths in 2022 with 29, followed by Port Phillip (23), Maribyrnong (22), Greater Geelong (22) and Yarra (21).

Recommendations in the VAADA and HRV report include setting up a taskforce under the chief Alcohol and Other Drug officer to develop a synthetic opioids plan.

A Victorian government spokesperson said the potent synthetic opioid plan had been received.

Other recommendations included establishing “drug checking and enhanced real-time public alert systems” which Mr Christoforou described as “critical”.

VAADA chief executive Chris Christoforou. Picture: Supplied

The spokesperson said the introduction of pill testing would help reduce opioid deaths but did not directly respond to questions about concerns the drugs could put a strain on the healthcare system.

“In Victoria, we deal with drug harms by giving people support and information, not stigma,” they said.

“That’s why we are introducing pill testing, putting Naloxone in vending machines, and delivering a $95m Statewide Action Plan to reduce opioid deaths.

“Victoria’s first pill testing sites will boost our early warning systems and help us get in front of synthetic opioids hitting the street.”