Wide Bay GP and Queensland AMA president Nick Yim says recent detections of potent and potentially lethal drugs in wastewater has emphasised “the necessity of pill testing services for public health and safety.“
Synthetic opioids which could be 1000 times more potent than morphine had been sold as oxycodone and ketamine, with liinks to dangerous overdoses.
Another factor was the growing trend towards online medicine sales.
“Economic pressures can drive individuals to seek cheaper, unregulated alternatives, often unaware of the deadly risks involved,“ the Hervey Bay GP warned.
“The rise of counterfeit pharmaceuticals containing highly potent synthetic opioids means that what appears to be a simple painkiller could contain substances up to 40 times stronger than fentanyl.
“Pill testing allows individuals to verify the contents of substances before consumption, reducing the risk (posed by) unknown and potentially lethal elements.
“It also provides a life-saving opportunity for a health professional to talk to people about what’s in their drugs and the risks involved.
“This brief but crucial interaction can be the difference between informed decision-making and a fatal overdose.“
“We continue to urge the Queensland Government to prioritise public health and reinstate pill testing services.
Dr Yim said that so far this year, the CheQpoint pill testing service has seen multiple detections of dangerous chemicals, including one synthetic opioid now blamed for a wave of overdose deaths across Australia.
“Over the past twelve months, 490 people have accessed CheQpoint’s services, with 800 drug samples tested.
“One in ten samples contained an unexpected psychoactive drug,“ he said.
