Dangerous high-potency drugs pose unprecedented threat to schoolies as pill testing banned in Queensland
Health experts have issued an urgent warning about lethal high-potency drugs circulating as thousands of teenagers begin their schoolies celebrations across Australia.
Dangerous high-potency drugs pose an unprecedented threat to schoolies this year as celebrations kick off across the country, prompting urgent warnings from health experts as thousands of teenagers descend on holiday hotspots.
The alert comes as drug testing is banned at schoolies events in Queensland, leading to one harm reduction advocate warning it could cost teenagers their lives.
Researcher Jack Freestone leads The Know, a website which collates and publishes drug alerts issued across Australia.
He said he had noticed an increase in alerts for missold and high potency drugs — both of which could cause overdose and death.
Missold drugs refer to drugs sold as one product, but are actually another.
Mr Freestone said he had seen an increase in drugs marketed as stimulants like cocaine and MDMA, but were actually strong opiate depressants such as nitazenes.
On the other end of the spectrum, Mr Freestone said there had been an alarming rise in high-potency MDMA.
“Since 2024 we have seen a number of alerts issued about high-dose MDMA pills,” he said.
“Sometimes pressed tablets with double the regular dose.
“That dose increases the risks of severe overheating, heart problems and seizures or even death.”
Mr Freestone said the unregulated drug market was unpredictable, making it important for those that choose to do drugs to be aware.
He advocates for a harm reduction approach to drug use.
“Harm reduction acknowledges people do use drugs and aims to provide them with information and resources to make informed decisions about how they do it,” he said.
Mr Freestone advised schoolies to “stick together and look out for each other” and “pace themselves”.
He also said they should inform themselves about naloxone – a product that can reverse the effects of opiate overdose.
Chief executive of The Loop Cameron Francis said he is very concerned schoolies in Queensland will not be able to access pill testing.
He fears school leavers may even die as a result.
The Loop provides testing in Victoria and New South Wales, but can no longer operate in the sunshine state due to new laws brought in by the Liberal National Queensland government in September.
“Despite our best efforts at prevention, young people will still choose to do drugs,” Mr Francis said.
“We need strategies to help them do so safely, such as pill testing.”
The Loop tests drugs and provides a brief intervention with a health worker.
He said 14 per cent of Queenslanders who used their service last year disposed of their drugs while 25-40 per cent said they would reduce their consumption after the intervention.
Queensland deputy premier Jarrod Bleijie said his government had taken a hard line approach on illicit substances.
“There is no safe illicit substance. That’s why they’re illegal,” he said in September.
“That’s why the government is taking a zero-tolerance approach to privately funded or publicly funded pill testing facilities.
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Originally published as Dangerous high-potency drugs pose unprecedented threat to schoolies as pill testing banned in Queensland
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