Victoria’s first permanent pill testing centre is set to open within weeks in Melbourne, offering an important harm minimisation service to test most pills, capsules, powders, crystals and liquids for free.
The facility will open in August at 95 Brunswick Street in Fitzroy, close to one of the city’s most popular nightlife hubs as well as public transport, health care and social services.
It will be operated by Youth Support and Advocacy Service, The Loop Australia, and Harm Reduction Victoria, who also run the state’s mobile testing trial.
The fixed-site will be open from Thursday to Saturday, although operating hours will be finalised closer to the launch of the service. It will initially operate as a 12 month-trial.
“This is about saving lives. No drug is safe — but with testing and open, health-focused conversations, we are helping Victorians make more informed and safer choices,” said Minister for Mental Health Ingrid Stitt in a statement on Tuesday.
“Our pill testing trial has already shown young people want the information that could keep them safe and now we’ll support even more Victorians with our fixed site service in Fitzroy.”
The facility will help spot new synthetic drugs like fentanyl and nitazenes early on, in a free service that will save lives, according to the government.
The announcement follows pretty successful mobile pill testing trials at five major music festivals in Victoria over the summer, with five more festivals added to the list this upcoming summer.
Almost 1,400 samples were tested at the music festivals, with cocaine, ketamine, and MDMA found to be the main drugs detected.
The government said 11 per cent of samples ended up not being what people had expected their drugs to be.
Two-thirds of people who used the service (65 per cent) said it was their first time having a harm reduction conversation with a health professional.
Of those using the service, 91 per cent were between 18 to 30 years old.
Speaking to The Age, director of the Victorian pill testing service Sarah Hiley said the drug market was more unstable than ever, with synthetic opioids being mixed into recreational drugs.
“Is it worth the risk of not coming to see us?” she told the publication.
“People can make their own choices. We’re there to just provide the information. This is a completely confidential and anonymous service. It’s also legal and it’s free, so we really hope that encourages people to come and use the service.”
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