Between February 14 and 16, a regulated crop of alkaloid poppies, cultivated for the pharmaceutical sector, was stolen from a property in Ballarat.

These poppies differ significantly from typical opioid varieties, which provide sedative effects through morphine and codeine. Alkaloid poppies instead contain thebaine and oripavine, both of which are present in perilously high concentrations.

The Victorian Health Department released a statement clarifying that “Thebaine does not offer pain relief, sedation, or euphoria.”

Instead, “Thebaine acts as a stimulant on the nervous system, potentially causing seizures, elevated body temperature, and severe toxicity,” the department warned.

“Any contact with thebaine can be toxic,” the statement continued.

Oripavine, while containing only “tiny, trace amounts” of opioids, can also induce agitation, seizures, and “potentially life-threatening complications at elevated doses.”

The department warned the wider community to be vigilant of dried, powdered, or liquid poppy flower product, such as dried flower heads without petals, ground poppy-plant material or “liquid preparations” derived from poppy plants.

Between 2022 and 2023 at least 40 people in Victoria experienced life-threatening agitation, muscle twitching, fevers and seizures after drinking thebaine-contaminated poppy seed tea.

Popular drug antidote Naloxone will only reverse the opioid effects of oripavine and will not reverse thebaine toxicity or toxic stimulant effects of oripavine.

If you experience toxic drug effects or are present when someone has an unexpected reaction, seek help immediately by calling Triple Zero.

Victoria Police said it “strongly discourages any handling, transport, or experimentation with the plants”.

Investigations into the theft remain ongoing.

National Alcohol and Other Drug hotline 1800 250 015

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