Community Notice from CanTEST: Medetomidine found in green ‘S 90 3’ pill

4 November 2026

CanTEST Health & Drug Checking Service has published a Community Notice on social media. It is also viewable as a webpage on The Know.

‘A green rectangular pill marked ‘S 90 3’ and two break lines splitting the pill into thirds, resembling an alprazolam (‘Xanax’) tablet, was submitted to CanTEST with uncertain expectations about its contents as either ‘alprazolam’ or ‘MDMA’. It has been identified as medetomidine, a potent non-opioid, non-benzodiazepine sedative.

Tablets of this appearance are not available as registered medicines in Australia.

This is the first detection of medetomidine by CanTEST. Medetomidine has been increasingly detected in the North American unregulated drug supply since 2021. It has also been identified in counterfeit ‘Xanax’ tablets in Victoria in 2026.’

This detection highlights the ongoing risks associated with counterfeit products sold as benzodiazepines and other unregulated drugs, which may contain unexpected substances or vary considerably in composition. Further information is available in the NSW Health Safety Information on counterfeit alprazolam

Medetomidine is not an opioid, so its effects are not reversed by naloxone. However, unregulated drugs can contain more than one substance, and opioids have previously been detected in counterfeit alprazolam tablets in NSW. If an overdose is suspected, give naloxone if available and call Triple Zero (000).

• Naloxone is a medicine that can temporarily reverse an opioid overdose and save a life. It is easy to use and is available as a nasal spray or pre-filled injection.
• Naloxone is free in NSW and you don’t need a prescription.
• Consider carrying naloxone if you use opioids, use other drugs that may unexpectedly contain opioids, or might be around someone at risk of an opioid overdose.
• Find naloxone near you: search for a participating provideror order  through NUAA Postal Take Home Naloxone.