Health authority issues urgent alert issued after contaminated drugs leave one dead and four hospitalised

By ASHLEY NICKEL, NEWS REPORTER, AUSTRALIA Published: 11:11, 1 July 2026 | Updated: 11:11, 1 July 2026 A dodgy batch of drugs spiked with heroin has resulted in one death and multiple hospitalisations. Victoria's Department of Health on Wednesday confirmed four seperate incidents of heroin overdose linked to the drugs. It's understood the patients believed they were taking cocaine and methamphetamine but unexpectedly ingested the opioid. 'Specialised blood tests showed evidence of heroin as well as cocaine and methamphetamine, suggesting that heroin may have been mixed into these drugs,' the department said in a statement.  Opioids, like heroin, act as central nervous system depressants and can trigger several symptoms, including pain relief, sedation and slowed breathing. Cocaine and methamphetamine act as stimulants. 'Small amounts of opioids can cause life-threatening overdose, especially in people who have never used opioids or only use them occasionally,' the department said.  Mixing depressants, like alcohol, with heroin increases the risk of overdose. One person has died and several others hospitalised after heroin was mixed with cocaine and methamphetamine Illicit drug users were advised to pick up free naloxone at participating pharmacies, health services and at naloxone dispensing machines (above) Signs of an opioid overdose include dangerously slow breathing and reduced consciousness. Victorians using illicit substances have been advised to pick up free naloxone, a drug that can reverse opioid overdose, at participating pharmacies, health services and at naloxone dispensing machines. It is unclear where the four incident occurred in Victoria. No comments have so far been submitted. Why not be the first to send us your thoughts, or debate this issue live on our message boards. By posting your comment you agree to our house rules. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual We will automatically post your comment and a link to the news story to your Facebook timeline at the same time it is posted on MailOnline. To do this we will link your MailOnline account with your Facebook account. We’ll ask you to confirm this for your first post to Facebook. You can choose on each post whether you would like it to be posted to Facebook. Your details from Facebook will be used to provide you with tailored content, marketing and ads in line with our Privacy Policy.