Three people in New South Wales were hospitalized, with one fatality, after taking white powder they believed to be cocaine. Tests revealed it contained bromazolam, a benzodiazepine, and 2C-B, a hallucinogen, leading to a warning from NSW Health.
One person has died and two people have ended up in hospital in New South Wales as a result of overdoses caused by unexpected drugs being mixed with cocaine. The three people who took the white powder assumed it was cocaine, but it was actually found to contain bromazolam, a type of benzodiazepine with strong, sometimes unexpected effects and 2C-B, a hallucinogen, NSW Health said.
NSW Poisons Information Centre Acting Medical Director Professor Andrew Dawson said the risk of severe overdose or death is increased when people used a drug that they were not expecting. 'One of the dangers of illicit drug supply is the strength and contents of the substance you are getting is unknown and can be inconsistent,' Dawson said. 'Anyone who experiences unexpected sedative effects such as difficulty speaking or walking, drowsiness, loss of consciousness, slowed breathing/snoring and skin turning blue/grey should seek medical care immediately. 'If you are feeling unwell, stay with friends or around other people. Don't go home alone to sleep it off.'Anyone using illicit drugs should also be carrying naloxone, a life-saving treatment that could temporarily reverse an opioid overdose, Dawson said. 'Although naloxone does not reverse the effects of benzodiazepines or hallucinogens, if you are concerned that someone is having an overdose, naloxone is safe to use in these circumstances,' he said. Take-home naloxone can be bought from some pharmacies, or is available from the NSW Users and AIDS Association (NUAA) via mail. Anyone who has concerns about adverse effects from drugs should contact the NSW Poisons Information Centre on 13 11 26, at any time 24/7. For support and information on drug and alcohol problems, contact the Alcohol and Drug Information Service on 1800 250 01
DRUG OVERDOSE HEALTH WARNING NSW HEALTH ILLEGAL DRUGS NALOXONE
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