AUS Drug Alert – “Bath Salts”

As of September 2023

Batches of the drug 4-methylmethcathinoine have been tested via a darknet informant and revealed the contents contain other drugs of the stimulant cathinone class, likely methylone, which is often sold as counterfeit MDMA. Dangerous if taken unknowingly due to its long duration of action compared to cocaine or MDMA or 4-methylmethcathinone, with a long onset of action so often festival-goers will redose their drugs thinking they have not taken effects – no wonder, especially with the ban on festival pill testing in some states, people are dying at these festivals. The drug sold as “cocaine” is also testing positive to these drugs.

Source: darknet informants (ID verified by PGP cryptographic keys) (September 2023)

NSW Drug Alert – Dipentylone sold as Cocaine

As of July 2023

Batches of NSW cocaine actually contain no cocaine, rather, they contain the synthetic stimulant dipentylone (about 50%), lignocaine (25%) to cause a feeling of numbness, and 25% inactive. Known to have been prevalent in Sydney and surrounds in June 2023,

Source: darknet research (July 2023)

NSW Drug Alert – MDA sold as MDMA

As of May 2023

Methylenedioxyamphetamine (MDA) is being pressed into pills with several other ingredients (most commonly a tryptamine and another cathinone or amphetamine. MDA is longer lasting and stronger by weight compared to MDMA, so accidental user will likely overdose as they do not know what they are taking. Studies at festivals have shown that the majority of people will throw away their drugs if they turn out to be something very different to what they wanted. Most batches of the pills referenced here appear to have arrived in Melbourne. If affected, keep hydrated and have a friend stay with you for the next 24 hours. While some people may handle MDA with minimal side effects, for other, they can be extremely unpleasant. Seek medication attention if needed earlier, rather than later

Source: darknet research (July 2021)