For the first time ever in Queensland, pill testing was offered at a festival, ‘Rabbits Eat Lettuce’. This is the first instance the service has been provided since the Queensland government announced their plans to roll out pill testing services and allocated nearly $1m towards funding the service.
The new approach by the Queensland Government comes as a result of the significant number of deaths in 2021 attributable to drugs. There was a total of 2,231 drug-induced deaths in Australia – the equivalent of 5 deaths a day.
Drug testing has been found to be a ‘commonsense harm reduction approach’ that has been used across the world. In 2018, the ACT was the first state to trial the service at the festival ‘Groovin the Moo’. However, Queensland is the first state to commit to the service on an ongoing basis.
Along with the pill-testing service, the initiative is intended to reflect the commitment to minimising harm, empowering festival-goers with information, and to provide discreet, legal and medically approved testing aimed to reduce the risks associated with substance use.
Importantly, the service does not only test for substances, but professionals involved in these programs also provide advice, information and any other assistance necessary to any individual seeking to access the service.
If you or someone you know wish to discuss this issue further, then please do not hesitate to contact us on 02 8999 9809.