“Let this evaluation see the light of day”: GPs call for release of Queensland drug testing report

The Royal Australian College of GPs (RACGP) has called on the Queensland Government to publicly release an independent, taxpayer-funded evaluation of the state’s drug testing sites. 

It comes following reports of the Government refusing to confirm whether it will release the findings of the evaluation, which was commissioned by the former Labor Government at a cost of $453,286. Earlier this year, the College spoke out against the Government’s controversial decision to axe the state’s fledgling drug testing sites at a time when one of the services, CheQpoint, detected multiple samples of the powerful and deadly synthetic opioid nitazene, which is even stronger than fentanyl and many times more potent than heroin.  

RACGP Queensland Chair, Dr Cathryn Hester, called on the Government to publicly release the evaluation and change course. 

“Let this evaluation see the light of day,” she said. 

“We have evidence from other jurisdictions around the world that drug testing is a sensible harm reduction measure. If the Government was confident its decision to close the drug testing sites was based on the best available evidence, this evaluation would be made public.  

“It was only a little over a year ago we welcomed the then Palaszczuk Government making Queensland the first Australian state or territory to introduce an ongoing drug testing service. Those sites have now shut their doors for good, and people using illicit drugs don’t have an avenue to turn to in order to find out what they’re taking. The situation is particularly grim in Queensland, because unlike other states and territories, we don’t have an overdose monitoring system or a public drug alert network. So, we call on the Government to reverse course, reveal this evaluation, and reassess the decision to close the drug testing sites. 

“Other Australian jurisdictions are heading in the right direction at a time when Queensland is taking backward steps. At Victoria’s first drug testing trial staff tested over 600 samples and spoke to more than 700 festivalgoers, mainly in their late teens and early 20s, discussing their drug use patterns. Almost 40% of those who visited the drug testing site said they would use a lower dose of their drugs after speaking to health professionals. Canberra’s drug testing sites proved their effectiveness from the outset, with a mobile site detecting at least one potentially fatal substance. We now have a drug testing trial under way in New South Wales, so the question must be asked as to why Queensland is heading in the opposite direction.” 

RACGP alcohol and other drugs spokesperson, Dr Marguerite Tracy, backed Dr Hester’s calls. 

“Drug testing saves lives, and the public deserve to know what the evaluation found,” she said. 

“The timing couldn’t be worse given that numerous states and territories, including Queensland, are detecting the new synthetic opioid nitazene. Drug testing is not about condoning illicit drug use, and I encourage all those using illicit drugs to book a consult with their GP and reconsider their drug use because it is never safe in any quantity. However, we must also adopt an evidence-based, health-first approach and view drug testing sites like the now closed CheQpoint as a sensible harm reduction measure. 

“My message to the Queensland Government is straightforward – overdose deaths don’t happen to ‘other people’. We must always strive to see illicit drug use through a health lens, it could be your own child, a friend, family member or colleague. We must always remember that every life matters.” 

~ENDS 

RACGP spokespeople are available for interviews: 03 8699 0992 / [email protected].