2 days ago
Permanent pill testing site announced for Fitzroy after successful music festival trials
The Victorian government has announced the location of the state's first permanent pill testing centre.
The facility will open in August at 95 Brunswick Street in Fitzroy, in Melbourne's inner-north, from Thursdays to Saturdays.
It will be run by the same consortium running mobile testing — Youth Support and Advocacy Service, The Loop Australia, and Harm Reduction Victoria.
It follows a successful mobile pill testing trial at five Victorian music festivals over summer and is part of a $4 million implementation trial.
The government said the Fitzroy location was close to popular nightlife hubs, public transport and health care and social services.
It said the facility would allow for the early detection and rapid assessment of new synthetic drugs such as fentanyl and nitazenes, and would provide a free, lifesaving service.
The medical support and social services would be provided by Melbourne Health and Youth Projects, while the University of Melbourne's Metabolomics Australia would run secondary testing to confirm the results of the substances.
"No drug is safe, but with testing and open, health-focused conversations, we are helping Victorians make more informed and safer choices," Mental Health Minister Ingrid Stitt said.
"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 music festival testing saw 1,400 samples tested, with MDMA, ketamine and cocaine the main drugs detected.
The government said 11 per cent of samples ended up not being what people had expected their drugs to be.
It said 65 per cent of mobile testing users reported having their first harm reduction conversation with a health professional and almost a third said they would take a smaller amount as a result.
Of those using the service, 91 per cent were aged between 18 to 30 years old.
"Our pill testing trial has already shown young people want the information that could keep them safe," Ms Stitt said.
She said the permanent facility would allow for the support of more Victorians.
