The Royal Australian College of GPs (RACGP) is calling on state and territory governments to embrace drug testing services to save lives, in the wake of fresh warnings regarding the dangerous synthetic opioid nitazene.
The drug, which is stronger than fentanyl and hundreds of times more potent than heroin, was recently detected in fake pharmaceuticals, including counterfeit pain medications, by the Australian Federal Police (AFP). It was also identified last month by Queensland's drug testing service CheQpoint, which has ceased operating after the Queensland Government opted to close the state's drug testing sites.
RACGP alcohol and other drug spokesperson, Dr Marguerite Tracy, said that the AFP warning highlighted the urgent need for drug testing services.
"Drug testing services, otherwise known as 'pill testing' services, save lives," she said.
"Nitazene is an immensely powerful and dangerous drug that is often sold to people as a legitimate pharmaceutical. This latest advice from the AFP is very concerning, because people taking counterfeit pharmaceuticals just don't know what they're consuming, including deadly substances such as synthetic opioids.
"Drug testing services, particularly fixed sites that people can visit at times of their choosing, are a sensible harm reduction measure, because it at least gives them some idea of what they're taking. This is not about condoning illegal drug use; it's about helping people who are taking illicit drugs make an informed decision.
"We also need more medically supervised injecting sites. Australia has just two of these services – one in Sydney, and one in Melbourne, and that must change. A KPMG report in 2020 found that the Kings Cross facility had reversed nearly 11,00 overdoses without a death and provided over 20,000 referrals to treatment and services. It's also vital that we expand access to opioid substitute therapy, such as methadone and buprenorphine, and boost the number of GPs and nurse practitioners who can prescribe these medications.
"Another priority is getting naloxone, a medication that can temporarily reverse an opioid overdose, into the hands of people likely to experience, or witness, an overdose. This drug should be provided to young people at schools as well as youth services and made available in first-aid kits. We should also do a lot more to enhance awareness of naloxone, because it can make all the difference in saving someone's life if they have overdosed."
Dr Tracy said that Australia was making progress but that a greater expansion of services was desperately needed.
"We're making some headway," she said.
"The ACT has had drug checking for several years now, including Australia's first fixed-site health and drug checking service, which opened in Canberra in July 2022. The Victorian Government has announced a drug testing trial, and already at one music festival we've seen some very positive results. My home state of New South Wales has introduced a 12-month trial drug checking program at selected music festivals.
"Unfortunately, the Queensland Government has decided to close drug testing sites. Other jurisdictions don't have drug testing services at all, and we need that to change. We must have these life-saving services across Australia. Overdose deaths don't discriminate, and they don't happen to 'other people', it could be your child, friend, family member or colleague. New, powerfully dangerous drugs are hitting our shores more regularly, and lives will be lost unless action is taken. At the end of the day – every life matters."
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