US EditionPublished • loading... • Updated
Health Alert After Thieves Steal 'Toxic' Poppy Plants
The stolen alkaloid poppies contain high levels of toxic thebaine and oripavine, linked to at least 40 life-threatening cases last year, Victoria Health warns.
- On Saturday, Victoria's Department of Health issued a public alert after about 1,700 alkaloid poppy plants were stolen from a Ballarat-area farm between February 14 and 16.
- Victoria's regulated alkaloid poppy industry produces plants with dangerously high thebaine and oripavine concentrations, distinct from traditional opioid poppies grown in a regulated commercial alkaloid poppy industry harvested December to February.
- Symptoms linked to thebaine include seizures and high body temperature, and at least 40 people experienced life‑threatening effects in 2022‑23, Victoria's Department of Health said.
- Police have strongly discouraged anyone from handling or transporting the stolen plants and urged witnesses to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or crimestoppersvic.com.au, while anyone with toxic effects should call Triple Zero immediately.
- Similar large thefts of regulated poppy crops have occurred across states, including Tasmania, where last month 2,500 square metres were stolen, and thebaine’s industrial uses link to deaths and hospitalisations.
Insights by Ground AI
14 Articles
14 Articles
Health Alert After Thieves Steal ‘Toxic’ Poppy Plants
Thieves have stolen hundreds of “toxic” poppy heads from a rural farm, prompting a public health alert over the potentially life-threatening products. Police are investigating after intruders looted about 1,700 dried poppy plants from a farm in Ballarat between Feb. 14 and 16, police said. Victoria’s health department issued a public alert on Saturday over the theft of the alkaloid poppy plant heads, grown for the pharmaceutical industry. “These…
·New York, United States
Read Full Article
Coverage Details
Total News Sources14
Leaning Left6Leaning Right5Center1Last UpdatedBias Distribution50% Left
Bias Distribution
- 50% of the sources lean Left
50% Left
L 50%
R 42%
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
