Overview
- Victoria Police say the alkaloid poppy heads were taken from a regulated crop in the Ballarat area between February 14 and 16.
- Detectives are investigating, urging witnesses to contact Crime Stoppers, and cautioning the public against handling or transporting the plants.
- The Department of Health reports these plants have dangerously high levels of thebaine and oripavine and only trace amounts of morphine and codeine.
- Naloxone can reverse opioid effects from oripavine but will not counter thebaine toxicity or the toxic stimulant effects described in the alert.
- Authorities advise avoiding dried heads, ground material, or liquid preparations from poppy plants, citing at least 40 life‑threatening cases from thebaine‑contaminated poppy seed tea in 2022–23.