Authorities in Australia have issued a public health alert after a synthetic opioid linked to a number of overdose deaths in the US was detected in fake prescription drugs. The substance, metonitazene, is an opioid similar to fentanyl. It was found in yellow, circular tablets that were being sold as oxycodone, a common opioid that is often abused.
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First Time Metonitazine Found in Australia
This is the first time that metonitazine has been found in counterfeit tablets in Australia. The ACT government has advised anyone who has purchased yellow “oxy” tablets to dispose of them safely, but has not included oxycodone that has been obtained via a prescription from a pharmacy or health service in this warning. The government has urged drug users to bring any illicit substances to the CanTEST pill-testing service in the city for analysis and to keep naloxone on hand. The ACT is the only jurisdiction in Australia with a legal pill-testing service, which allows people to anonymously check the contents of their drugs before consumption.
Keith is a retired Police Sergeant, working his entire 29 year career in the San Francisco Bay Area. Keith is a recipient of the prestigious California’s Narcotics Officer of the Year Award and is a prior winner of MADD’s California Hero Award. He has years of experience as a Narcotics Detective and a Narcotics Unit Supervisor and is a Drug Recognition Expert Instructor (IACP #3292). Keith has developed several courses for the Department of Defense, California Narcotics Officers Association, and California POST, and numerous police agencies and private corporations.
Keith has held other assignments besides narcotics including Training Sergeant, Patrol Sergeant, COPPS Officer, Traffic Officer, and 20 years as a SWAT Team member and Sniper Team Leader. Keith has taught thousands of officers and businesses around the world about drug use, drug trends, compliance training and drug investigations. Keith is also the founder of Christian Warrior Training, where he provides free resources and training to church security ministries. He is recognized as an international drug expert and has testified as an expert in court proceedings on drug cases, homicide cases and rape prosecutions. Keith earned a BA in Business Management from Saint Mary’s College of California and a MA in Criminal Justice. Keith is the Founder and President of Graves & Associates, a company dedicated to providing drug training to law enforcement, the Department of Defense, and private industry internationally. You can follow Keith on social media on Facebook (DopeCop and DrugEnforcementCops), twitter (DopeCop) and Instagram (DrugEnforcementCops).
