State government to open Brisbane’s first fixed pill testing site, plans for more

Brisbane’s first fixed pill testing site is set to open this month with plans for another, while drug checking staff seized more than a dozen unsafe samples at a Queensland music festival.

A fixed pill testing site will be rolled out in Brisbane city within a couple of weeks with a second to be opened mid-year in a yet to be decided location.

The announcement by the Queensland government comes after the state’s first festival drug checking service staff seized more than a dozen samples that were unsafe and persuaded visitors to cut down on substance intake.

At the Rabbits Eat Lettuce Festival near Warwick, where two people died in 2019, 257 festival goers visited the drug testing tent.

A total of 14 drugs were discarded by the safety testers.

Queensland is the first state to invest in an ongoing drug harm strategy as part of a $1m investment and the multi-day music festival tent was a national first.

Clinical lead for the PTA site David Caldicott and volunteer Erica Franklin at the Rabbits Eat Lettuce music festival. Picture: John Gass

The most common substances tested included MDMA and ketamine.

Some higher-risk substances were identified including Dimethylpentylone (a synthetic cathinone) and 2-fluoro-2-oxo-phenylcyclohexylethylamine, which were both mis-sold as other substances.

Festival goers were also provided with information on the dangers of drug use and many reported they would reconsider or take less of the substances they had planned.

Queensland Health Minister Shannon Fentiman stressed that there is no safe way to take drugs. Picture: Tertius Pickard

Health Minister Shannon Fentiman said she wanted to make it clear that there is no safe way to take illicit drugs.

“But we can take steps to reduce harm and help people make more informed choices. In 2021, there were over 2200 drug-related deaths in Australia, which is 2200 too many. That is why this initiative is important,” she said.

“The drug checking service provided health advice and harm reduction information to hundreds of festival goers this weekend, meaning that those who did decide to take drugs did so in a more informed way.

“Many participants said that they would reconsider or take less of the substances they had in their possession, which is an excellent outcome,” Ms Fentiman said.

Sam Reid and Shan Da Cruz at the Rabbits Eat Lettuce music festival. Picture: John Gass

She said that she was disappointed that the LNP has indicated they want to roll back these services.

The first fixed pill testing site is set for Bowen Hills in the city this month.

Rebecca Lang chief executive of the Queensland Network of Alcohol and other Drug Agencies has praised the government for leading the nation.

“The fact that more than 250 people were willing to visit the tent for the first time is a great start. As people gain confidence more will use the service.

“The plan for fixed sites is needed and I would think that the Gold Coast would be a contender for the second fixed site,” she said.