In short:

SA Health says a man suffered a near-fatal drug overdose after he consumed a single street-bought oxycodone pill containing a deadly synthetic opioid.

A toxicologist says it is the first time protonitazene has been found in a drug that is designed to mimic a prescribed medication in South Australia. 

What’s next?

South Australians are being warned about the dangers of the drug ahead of a music festival in Adelaide today. 

Health officials have issued a warning about a potentially deadly synthetic opioid after an Adelaide man nearly died in hospital last week. 

SA Health said staff at the Royal Adelaide Hospital had to resuscitate the man who had gone into respiratory arrest after consuming a street-bought oxycodone pill.

A toxicological screening detected the presence of large amounts of protonitazene, a dangerous synthetic opioid that can produce life-threatening toxic effects.

Clinical toxicologist Associate Professor Sam Alfred told ABC Radio Adelaide that the incident suggests protonitazene may be contaminating illicitly-sourced oxycodone tablets as well as other non-opioid illicit drugs, such as methamphetamine and cocaine. 

“This is the first time in South Australia that we’ve had it turn up in a drug that is designed to mimic a prescribed medication and that is a significant shift,” Dr Alfred said. 

“The concern is that the individual involved bought a tablet that he believed to be oxycodone on the street … he took one tablet and then had a respiratory arrest which meant that he stopped breathing and was in the process of dying.

“He survived the experience thankfully but obviously we are very concerned that others might not be so lucky.”

SA Health says a man who suffered a near-fatal drug overdose has since been discharged from hospital.(ABC News: Dean Faulkner)

SA Health issued the warning as many young people prepare to attend this year’s Spin Off Festival at the Adelaide Showgrounds today.

Health authorities first began raising concerns about protonitazene last year, when it was linked to at least one person’s death and multiple overdoses. 

Dr Alfred said the “extremely dangerous drug” was much stronger than morphine or fentanyl, and was capable of causing a fatal overdose even at a low dose. 

“Initially it will cause sedation and then as the drug effects mount it’ll slow down people’s breathing to the point that the breathing stops and they die,” he said. 

“It’s the potency which means you don’t need a very high level to achieve a very strong effect in the patient.

“This drug can kill you in a tablet.”

Dr Alfred said the opioid overdose-countering drug naloxone can be accessed for free and without a prescription from registered pharmacies, approved general practitioners and registered community health organisations. 

“If people are going to experiment with these sorts of drugs, and I would very strong suggest that they don’t, but if they are going to then I would strongly suggest that they do it in the presence of somebody else who can keep an eye on them and that they get hold of some naloxone so they’ve got treatment available,” he said.