Overview

• Queensland Health issued a public health alert for 5-cyano-isotodesnitazene after toxicology linked the compound in a white powder labelled "opioid F5" to a coronial death.
• Reports state a second Queenslander has died this month in incidents involving nitazenes, with earlier detections in pale yellow bear-shaped tablets stamped with a "Y".
• The alert notes very limited potency and toxicology data for 5-cyano-isotodesnitazene, which has only recently been identified in Australia.
• Officials warn nitazene test strips are unreliable for novel analogues, noting the "opioid F5" sample did not react to the strips.
• Harm‑reduction advocates say the pill‑testing ban removes an early warning tool as Schoolies approaches, while senior ministers reject pill testing and stress zero‑tolerance messaging.