Alerts & notifications

Highly potent synthetic opioid detected in fake diazepam tablet

UPDATED 6 May 2024
A highly potent synthetic opioid, N-Desethyletonitazene, has been detected in a fake benzodiazepine tablets.

Highly potent synthetic opioid misrepresented as butonitazene

More highly potent nitazene variations have been identified.

Fake oxycodone tablets linked to serious harm

Fake oxycodone tablets, containing metonitazene, may be linked to a recent death and serious hospitalisations in New Zealand

Misrepresented MDMA linked to serious harm in Hawke’s Bay

UPDATED 11 August 2023
Serious harm has been linked with misrepresented MDMA in the Hawke’s Bay area.

Yellow tablet/powder containing potent opioid likely to cause serious harm

UPDATED 28 MARCH 2023
Serious harm has been identified in relation to metonitazene found in a yellow powder. High Alert urges continued caution, particularly in the Auckland region.

New synthetic cathinone dimethylpentylone detected in NZ

The synthetic cathinone dimethylpentylone has been detected for the first time in New Zealand.

New cathinone N-Ethylheptedrone detected

High Alert has received information about the presence of cathinone N-Ethylheptedrone. This has never previously been found in New Zealand.