Drug checking was first trialled at a Canberra music festival five years ago,with the ACT opening afixed site last year,while aVictorian coroner this weekcalled for the introduction of pill testing in that state – the fourth coroner to do so in six years.
The most recent calls in Victoria came after a 26-year-old man died having probably taken an MDMA (ecstasy) pill known as the Blue Punisher at a music festival.
The Queensland walk-in service will be confidential,available to people of any age,including under-18s,and anyone seeking testing of illegal drugs at approved sites will not be reported to police.
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The fixed sites will be co-located with a health service,ideally near nightlife precincts and easy public transport access,with an obscured entry with minimal “drug checking” signs,and lockers near the entrance for mobile phones as they will not be allowed beyond the waiting area.
Users will be offered an optional “brief intervention”,including information about harm reduction,and patrons can bin drugs they do not want.
They may also be given take-home naloxone,a drug that can temporarily reverse opioid overdose,syringes and STI screening.