Did you know that the State plans to establish a fixed pill testing site in Bowen Hills within the coming weeks?
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Photo Credit: Facebook/ RabbitsEatLettuce
This announcement follows the success of the state's inaugural festival drug checking service, where over a dozen unsafe samples were seized, and attendees were encouraged to reconsider their substance intake.
Almost 300 festival-goers freely went through the drug testing tent at the Rabbits Eat Lettuce Festival. This was a key moment in Queensland's plan to reduce drug harm. Notably, careful safety testers threw away 14 harmful chemicals, underscoring the urgent need for such interventions.
Photo Credit: Facebook/ RabbitsEatLettuce
With the addition of the nation's best multi-day music festival tent for drug testing, Queensland becomes the first state to put $1 million into an ongoing drug harm plan. MDMA and ketamine were among the commonly tested substances, but higher-risk chemicals like dimethylpentylone and mis-sold 2-fluoro-2-oxo-phenylcyclohexylethylamine also showed up.
Health Minister Shannon Fentiman emphasised the importance of making smart choices. He said, "There is no safe way to take illicit drugs, but we can take steps to reduce harm and help people make more informed choices."
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Photo Credit: Facebook/ RabbitsEatLettuce
Fentiman was disappointed that people were against these services and emphasised the urgent need for harm reduction steps because of the shocking number of drug-related deaths in Australia.
Photo Credit: Facebook/ RabbitsEatLettuce
Rebecca Lang, CEO of the Queensland Network of Alcohol and other Drug Agencies, praised the government for being proactive. She thinks that as trust grows, more people will accept and use these services. There are plans for a second permanent site, and the Gold Coast has been mentioned as a possible location. This would make Queensland even more of a leader in the national fight to reduce drug harm.
Published Date 12-April-2024
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