Scientists make Australian-first detection of new drug

Drug testing being undertaken at the CanTest facility. Photo: ANU - Scientists from The Australian National University (ANU) have detected a mysterious new recreational drug not seen in Australia before, nor toxicologically described anywhere else. The drug, which the scientists are labelling "CanKet", shares similar chemical qualities to ketamine, but with a unique makeup previously unseen. The finding was made as part of their work with Australia's first fixed pill testing site, CanTEST, located in Canberra. "Someone presented a small plastic bag of crystals and powder to the testing service," Professor Malcolm McLeod, from ANU, said. "They told us that they thought it was ketamine but that the effects of the drug were very different to what they expected, so they wanted us to test it. "But when we tested the substance it was clear it wasn't ketamine, but rather a ketamine like substance.