Overdose fears as Queenslanders turn to online sources for opioids and other drugs in cost-of-living crisis

Cash-strapped Queenslanders are risking their lives by buying counterfeit prescription drugs online, with tests detecting an array of deadly synthetic opioids.

Nitazenes are a class of synthetic opioids typically sold as heroin and are estimated to be several times more potent than fentanyl. Picture: Joe Lamberti for The Washington Post via Getty Images

The cost of living crisis is pushing Queenslanders to seek counterfeit prescription drugs online, with pill testing sites detecting multiple deadly synthetic opioids and benzodiazepines disguised as legitimate pharmaceuticals.

Since December, the government’s CheQpoint pill testing service has seen five detections of the highly dangerous benzodiazepine bromazolam, and two detections of the deadly synthetic opioid nitazene, responsible for a wave of overdose deaths across the country.

And drug experts fear the detections are only the tip of the iceberg.

CheQpoint is funded by the Queensland Government as a 12-month pilot, with an independent evaluation set to hand down its findings at the end of May.

Health Minister Tim Nicholls has indicated that he’s waiting to see the findings of the evaluation, before making a decision on the future of the service.

A new report released Wednesday reveals that over the past 12 months, 490 people have accessed CheQpoint’s services, with 800 drug samples tested including a range of prescription drugs as well as illicit substances.

Alarmingly, one in 10 samples contained an unexpected psychoactive drug, including highly dangerous ketamine variants, potent stimulants as well as deadly nitazenes.

Health Minister Tim Nicholls has indicated that he’s waiting to see the findings of the evaluation, before making a decision on the future of the service. Picture: Dan Peled / NewsWire

One in every seven people who accessed the service disposed of their drugs after talking with a health professional, and an additional one in three people were referred on for additional support including to their GP or to drug and alcohol counselling and treatment.

Cameron Francis, chief executive of The Loop Australia, which runs the program, said testing was vital to save lives as people looked for cheaper drugs online.

“The priority should be to stay ahead of emerging threats, ensuring that people are informed and protected,” he said.

“Drug checking is an evidence based public health service. It’s disappointing to hear that the government is not even going to look at the evidence for the outcomes that we’ve achieved.”

The state’s peak medical body backs the call for the LNP government to retain testing after May.

“The government must retain this vital program, especially until it can be fully evaluated,” president Nick Yim said.

“Referring people who use drugs to a GP is the safest and most effective way to get them the help they need.

“Pill testing provides a lifesaving opportunity for a health professional to talk to people about their drug use and keep them safe,” he said.

“Every person that accesses a CheQpoint service is one less our busy emergency departments may have to treat due to drug misadventure,” Dr Yim said.