Queensland Health reveals results from pill testing service at Rabbits Eat Lettuce festival

Health authorities have revealed the results of Queensland’s first pill testing service, conducted at a Southern Downs music festival, which included a positive result for rare high-risk drug.

Health authorities have released data from Queensland’s first pill testing site, which uncovered a high-risk substance first detected by another drug testing service in Canberra.

The Rabbits Eat Lettuce music festival, held in the Southern Downs over the Easter long weekend, was the state’s first event-based drug checking service, and a national first for a multi-day music festival.

Delivered by Pill Testing Australia, the service saw 257 festival goers visit the drug checking tent over four days.

Initial data from the service reveals that out of the 210 samples provided for testing by qualified chemists, about 14 samples were discarded.

Clinical lead for the PTA site David Caldicott and PTA volunteer Erica Franklin Rabbits Eat Lettuce music festival. Friday March 29, 2024. Picture, John Gass

The most common substances presented for testing were MDMA and ketamine.

Two high-risk substances were detected during the testing, including dimethylpentylone (a synthetic cathinone) and 2-fluoro-2-oxo-phenylcyclohexylethylamine, which were both mis-sold as other substances.

Pill Testing Australia has issued a warning on 2-fluoro-2-oxo-phenylcyclohexylethylamine, otherwise dubbed as Canberra ketamine after it was detected for the first time in Australia by the CanTEST drug checking service in Canberra.

The warning states that 2-fluoro-2-oxo-phenylcyclohexylethylamine is a new synthetic ketamine, and its long and short-term effects were unknown.

Pill Testing is available Friday & Saturday next to the info booth from 10am - 1pm & 2pm - 5pm Dr. David Caldicott, 6 chemists and 8 harm reduction specialists are here to keep you safe. Non judgement, anonymous, science based information so you can make INFORMED decisions about what you may choose to put in your body. Play Safe Lovers Picture Instagram @rabbitseatlettuce

Pill Testing Australia executive officer and festival service delivery manager Stephanie Tzanetis said the testing was a success.

“The success of Queensland’s first pill testing service at the Rabbits Eat Lettuce festival, would not have been possible without the leadership team of Professor Malcolm McLeod (chemistry lead), Dr David Caldicott (medical lead) and Dr Penny Hill (data officer).

“This success was made possible due to the collaboration with the event’s director, operations manager, emergency service co-ordinator and key stakeholders, including the onsite health provider (HEST Paramedical) and the peer-based harm reduction services (Conscious Nest).

Rabbits Eat Lettuce music festival. Friday March 29, 2024. Picture, John Gass

“We are grateful to supporters throughout the service planning process, including HRA, QuIHN, QuIVAA, Conscious Nest, Family Drug Support QLD, the University of QLD, Directions Health (the CanTEST Lead agency).

“Crucially, we thank the patrons who accessed the service. While there were no ‘high risk’ substances found over the weekend, there were some unexpected results and Pill Testing Australia will share information about those detections for the benefit of the community.”

The drug checking service worked with other onsite services including, the festival operations crew and the onsite medical service, to minimise the risk of harm as well as check drugs for dangerous substances.

A team of specialist healthcare and harm reduction workers were on hand to provide information about the dangers of drug use, with an aim to positively influence behaviour and reduce the overall intake of illicit substances.

Originally published as Queensland Health reveals results from pill testing service at Rabbits Eat Lettuce festival