A state government has been slammed for abandoning permanent pill-testing clinics after extremely potent synthetic opioids were found in Australian wastewater for the first time.
Other Australian jurisdictions are already looking beyond festivals as the best place to provide drug-checking services.
The announcement marks a major win for drug reform advocates who have long called for pill testing in the state.
As the sun sinks and the festival reaches its peak,a steady steam of young people line up with illicit pills,powders and crystals for testing.
Paramedics were called to the Beyond the Valley festival after a man in his 20s suffered a drug overdose.
MPs including the parliamentary secretary for health have put their names to an open letter calling on their own government to overhaul drug policy in NSW.
The drug was sold as oxycodone and purchased online,highlighting the dangers of counterfeit pharmaceuticals.
Just 27 tests have been conducted so far at schoolies,equating to $8000 per test,says Queensland’s health minister.
Gold Coast school-leavers will have access to a free and confidential drug-testing service from Saturday,with advocates saying the initiative could be life-saving.
The new Queensland Premier will now “take some advice” about the LNP’s previous vow to scrap pill-testing services at schoolies amid concerns from doctors.