A sharp rise in deaths linked to novel benzodiazepines (NBZDs) has been labelled a major public health concern by researchers at the National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre (NDARC), UNSW Sydney. The findings highlight the growing risks posed by emerging synthetic drugs in Australia and the increasing complexity facing health services, regulators and workplaces.
Novel benzodiazepines are unregulated, illicitly manufactured substances designed to mimic pharmaceutical benzodiazepines such as Valium (diazepam) and Xanax (alprazolam). However, they are often significantly more potent, unpredictable and dangerous than their prescription counterparts.
Key Findings from the NDARC Study
NDARC researchers identified a clear and accelerating increase in deaths involving novel benzodiazepines across Australia:
- 258 fatal poisonings involving novel benzodiazepines since 2013
- 87% of these deaths occurred between 2020 and 2025
- 15 different novel benzodiazepines detected in toxicology results
The most commonly identified compounds were:
- Etizolam (48%)
- Bromazolam (38%)
- Flualprazolam (12%)
- Clonazolam / 8‑aminoclonazolam (11%)
Compared to earlier years, deaths in the 2020s were more than four times as likely to involve multiple novel benzodiazepines, significantly increasing the risk of overdose and severe respiratory depression.
Why Novel Benzodiazepines Are So Dangerous
There is no safe way to use novel benzodiazepines due to their unpredictable potency and effects on the central nervous system. Unlike regulated prescription medicines, these substances:
- Are produced without quality controls
- Vary significantly in strength between batches
- Are often mislabelled and/or sold as other drugs
Novel benzodiazepines can cause far stronger sedation and respiratory depression than pharmaceutical benzodiazepines, particularly when combined with alcohol, opioids and/or other depressants. This combination was present in many of the fatal cases examined in the study.
A Profile of Risk
The study also sheds light on who is most affected:
- Average age approximately 32 years
- Gender over 80% male
- Mental health comorbidity 55%
- History of injecting drug use 52%
Perhaps most concerning, researchers found that in two‑thirds of fatal overdoses, other people were nearby, yet assistance was only provided in around half of those cases. This points to low awareness of overdose warning signs and significant missed opportunities for intervention.
What This Means for Workplaces
While novel benzodiazepines are often discussed in the context of illicit drug use, their rise has direct implications for workplace safety. Under WHS legislation, employers have clear obligations to identify and manage risks, and staying informed about emerging drug trends is now a critical part of due diligence.
Key challenges for workplaces include:
- Use and affects that might not be obvious or self‑disclosed
- Unpredictable effects due to high potency and polysubstance use
- Detection gaps, as new substances may not be identified without up‑to‑date testing strategies
Moving Forward – Awareness, Detection, and Prevention
NDARC researchers are calling for expanded toxicology screening capabilities and improved public and professional awareness of novel benzodiazepines.
In response to these emerging risks, many organisations are reviewing whether their current testing programs can identify newer substances such as novel benzodiazepines. Access to our specialised testing services can help close detection gaps and provide greater confidence when responding to complex or unexpected results.
Improving awareness is equally critical. Targeted drug and alcohol training helps supervisors, health professionals and safety teams better understand the effects, risks and warning signs associated with novel benzodiazepines, supporting earlier intervention and safer outcomes.
For workplaces, this reinforces the importance of:
- Robust drug and alcohol policies and procedures
- Targeted training and education awareness sessions
- Contemporary drug and alcohol testing programs that evolve with the changing risk environment
Next Steps
As Australia’s drug landscape continues to shift, proactive, evidence‑based approaches will be essential to protecting people, performance and compliance.
If you’d like support reviewing your testing program, training or policies and procedures, in light of emerging synthetic drugs, our team can help – get in touch.