Nearly $1 million in funding for festival pill testing

Pill testing has been made available in Queensland following the deaths of two festival goers.

The state government will invest nearly $1 million over two years to the service, starting at the Rabbits Eat Lettuce festival in southeast Queensland next week.

Calls for standardised pill-testing programs at festivals increased after the deaths of Dassarn Tarbutt, 24 and Ebony Greening, 22, at the 2019 Rabbits Eat Lettuce event near Warwick.

Festival goers intending to use substances can have them tested by qualified chemists as part of the service.

Queensland has become the first in Australia to commit to supporting pill testing on an ongoing basis, Health Minister Shannon Fentiman said.

Overall Queensland has become the second jurisdiction nationally to offer pill testing behind the ACT.

Ms Fentiman said the scheme was an opportunity to connect and engage with young people considering using drugs.

"In 2021, there were 2,231 drug-induced deaths in Australia - the equivalent of five deaths a day," Ms Fentiman said.

"That's 2,231 deaths too many, and we know this number will continue to grow if we don't act now."

Greens MP Michael Berkman said the pill testing service will save lives.

"Five years ago I visited the pill testing facility at Groovin the Moo in Canberra and the most important insight for me was that this is a health intervention service," he said.

"It's not just about testing the substance but the opportunity to speak to someone before they take drugs."

Queensland Health chose two providers with extensive experience to deliver the state-funded, fixed site testing service.

Queensland Injectors Health Network, The Loop Australia and the Queensland Injectors Voice for Advocacy and Action will jointly deliver two services in southeast Queensland in 2024.

The other provider - Harm Reduction Australia - will deliver several festival-based services across 2024 and 2025.

University of Queensland's Institute for Social Science Research will evaluate the service and develop a state-wide monitoring framework for pill testing.

Introducing ongoing pill testing has been welcomed by health stakeholders.

The Royal Australian College of General Practioners said other jurisdictions should follow suit.

"To all state and territory governments my question is a simple one - what are you waiting for?," spokesperson Dr Hester Wilson said.

"Queensland and the ACT are taking the lead, now it is time for you to follow."