IN THE wake of fresh warnings regarding the presence of the dangerous synthetic opioid nitazene in pharmaceuticals, the Royal Australian College of GPs (RACGP) is calling on state and territory governments to embrace drug testing services to save lives.
Nitazene 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 no longer operates after the government shut down testing services (PD 09 Apr).
RACGP alcohol and other drug spokesperson, Dr Marguerite Tracy, said that the AFP warning highlights 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," Dr Tracy said.
She pointed out that fixed-site drug testing services allow people to visit at any time, and are "a sensible harm reduction measure, because it at least gives them some idea of what they're taking".
The RACGP would also like to see awareness of naloxone enhanced, and put in the hands of people likely to experience, or witness, an overdose, including young people at schools and in youth services, and to be made available in first-aid kits.
Dr Tracy said that Australia is making progress, with a fixed-site service in the ACT and music festival testing in NSW and Vic, but a greater expansion of services is desperately needed. KB
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