The Victorian Government’s pill testing service has marked one year of saving lives and reducing drug harm, with close to 3,000 people making use of the service since its launch in August last year.
In the past 12 months, more than 5,000 drug samples have been tested and more than 2,500 conversations held between service users and experienced harm reduction workers. Almost 40% of people said it was the first time they had spoken to a health professional about their substance use. Around 12% of samples contained an unexpected psychoactive substance with the potential to cause serious harm.
The fixed site has issued 28 drug notifications, warning the community about dangerous substances, including two urgent alerts for nitazenes – synthetic opioids up to 1,000 times stronger than morphine. It has also provided 700 units of the life-saving overdose reversal medication naloxone.
“Over the past year, our pill testing services have saved lives, reduced harm and connected thousands of Victorians with trusted health advice,” said Minister for Mental Health, Ingrid Stitt.
“No drug is safe – but pill testing helps people make more informed choices and gives us vital information to warn the community about dangerous substances.”
The service is complemented by a mobile service that has provided pill testing and health advice at 10 Victorian music festivals and events.
The service is delivered by experienced harm reduction organisations including the Youth Support and Advocacy Service, The Loop Australia and Harm Reduction Victoria.
