Author: Gideon Warhaft

Queensland Premier Steven Miles toured the drug checking site before it opened for the first time. While he said police would continue to crack down on traffickers, the drug-checking site was all about harm minimisation. Read more

Managed by Pill Testing Australia, the event-based service at the festival drew in 257 festival-goers over the course of four days, offering crucial information about the substances they intended to consume. Pill Testing Australia medical lead David Caldicott hailed the festival a success and estimated drug samples from close to 10 percent of festival goers…

The Pill Testing Australia clinical lead David Caldicott said it was hard to know if the clinic saved lives in 2024, but pointed to the lack of a need for paramedics as a win for safety. Read more

“The success of QLD’s first pill testing service at the multi-day festival Rabbits Eat Lettuce (REL) would not have been possible without the leadership team”, comprising of Professor Malcolm McLeod (Chemistry Lead), Dr David Caldicott (Medical Lead) and Dr Penny Hill (Data Officer), said PTA’s Executive Officer Steph Tzanetis, who was the onsite Service Manager. This…

Pill testing results show service’s importance to health and safety

PTA runs Qld’s first ever pill testing service

Five thousand partygoers will have the opportunity to get their illicit drugs tested for purity at the iconic “bush doof” Rabbits Eat Lettuce Festival that begins on Thursday on Queensland’s Southern Downs. Pill Testing Australia’s David Caldicott says drug behaviours change depending on how long the party goes for. Read more

Pill Testing Australia executive officer Stephanie Tzanetis said drug checking was “very much something that the community wants”. She said Pill Testing Australia was excited to begin expanding more testing sites across music festivals. Read more

In January, Ms Allan said she had sought that advice after at least 10 people were taken to hospital following suspected drug use at festivals. “There are no current plans to change the policy setting on drug checking,” she said at the time. Harm Reduction Australia and Pill Testing Australia in November announced they formally…

CanTEST Coordinator Steph Tzanetis told ABC Radio Canberra this particular drug had been purchased from “the clear net, not the dark web”. She said taking the potent drug, methamphetamine, could have resulted in the person experiencing a stimulant overdose.  “So the signs and symptoms relating to a stimulant overdose can include things like overheating, a…