The Royal Australian College of GPs (RACGP) has thrown its support behind Victoria's first ever fixed drug testing site.
Opening in August this year at 95 Brunswick Street in Fitzroy, the site will allow people to have drugs tested at a location nearby a range of health and social services, including drug and alcohol counselling and a needle and syringe program.
The free, confidential, and anonymous service will be open for one year, with all Victorians able to access the service on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays.
RACGP Victoria Chair Dr Anita Muñoz described the announcement as a "huge step forward."
"Fixed drug testing sites are so important as people can go to have their drugs tested and talk to experienced staff at a time of their choosing," she said.
"Mobile testing at sites such as at music festivals are an essential component too, but not everyone attends these events. We warmly welcomed Victoria's first-ever 18-month drug testing trial and for good reason – drug testing saves lives.
"This is not about condoning illicit drug use; it's a sensible harm reduction measure that is proven to work around the world, including in Australia.
"The expansion to a fixed site in Fitzroy couldn't come at a more opportune time. Across Australia, law enforcement and drug testing services are detecting samples of the powerful and deadly synthetic opioid nitazene, which is even stronger than fentanyl, and many times more potent than heroin.
"This drug will take lives, so we must expand drug testing services and have more medically supervised injecting sites. Lives depend on it, it's as simple as that."
Dr Muñoz said Victoria's drug testing trial was already showing positive results.
"We know that drug testing works, and Victoria's trial is showing tremendous promise," she said.
"The mobile sites have already helped more than 1,500 people and tested close to 1,400 samples. It takes just one of those samples to feature a lethal substance the person may not even realise they're ingesting for a life to be needlessly lost.
"Drug testing services also provide people with the valuable opportunity to chat to health professionals about their illicit drug use. This provides a key intervention point that can lead to people changing their illicit drug use patterns.
"Over the music festival season, 65% of those who used Victoria's mobile drug testing services said that it was their first conversation with a health professional about drug and alcohol safety.
"Not only that, over 30% of them said that they would take a smaller amount after having this conversation, which as a GP is something that brings a huge smile to my face, that's just what we want to achieve."
RACGP alcohol and other drug spokesperson Dr Marguerite Tracy emphasised the need for greater awareness of naloxone, a drug that can temporarily reverse the effects of an opioid overdose and backed Dr Muñoz's calls.
"This is such a welcome development – well done to the Victorian Government," Dr Tracy said.
"Despite recent setbacks in Queensland, we're seeing momentum build across Australia. My home state of New South Wales has launched its own drug testing trial, the ACT has been doing so for many years, and other state and territory governments are starting to say more positive things.
"This latest development in Victoria is great news, especially with nitazenes flooding into Australia. These powerful opioids are similar to fentanyl and have been sold as heroin or ketamine, and pills sold as MDMA have been found to contain nitazines.
"This contamination doesn't come with a warning label. Drug testing can give health services the opportunity to detect contamination and warn people, but contamination increases the risk someone experiences an overdose or other adverse reaction.
"No matter what substance you use, carrying naloxone can save a life – yours, or someone else's.
"That makes boosting awareness of naloxone, which can temporarily reverse the effects of an opioid overdose or adverse reaction, vital.
"Under the national Take Home Naloxone program, naloxone is available free of charge and without a prescription at participating pharmacies. Those are all over Australia, and there's probably one near you.
"To all governments across Australia, my message couldn't be more straightforward – every life is worth saving.
"Drug overdose deaths don't happen to other people, it cuts across all segments of society. It could be your family member, your friend, or your colleague. Let's put in place smart harm reduction measures that will save lives.
"Every day we delay is another day that people can experience overdoses and die from something that could potentially have been prevented."
