Opioid-laced cocaine 100 times more potent than heroin sparks Victorian health warning

The Victorian health department says there has been a string of incidents where people suffered harm after using cocaine that contained a novel synthetic opioid (NSO). Photograph: Peter Dazeley/Getty Images

A synthetic drug 100 times more potent than heroin has been found in cocaine currently being sold in Melbourne, prompting a warning from Victoria’s health department.

The Department of Health on Tuesday issued a drug alert for cocaine laced with protonitazene, a novel synthetic opioid (NSO).