'This is another key step forward in saving lives': GPs back Victorian Government drug testing expansion

GPs are throwing their support behind a Victorian Government plan to expand drug testing across the state, including at major music festival events late this year and in 2026.  

The Victorian Mental Health Minister, the Hon Ingrid Stitt, has committed to lifesaving drug testing sites being available at events including “Spilt Milk” on 6 December, “Dangerous Goods 6XXL” on 24 January and the “Pitch Music and Arts Festival” on 6–10 March next year, with further events to be announced soon. 

Earlier this year, the  Royal Australian College of GPs (RACGP) strongly endorsed the state Government opening Victoria’s first ever fixed drug testing site in Fitzroy, allowing people to have drugs tested at a location close to a range of health and social services, including drug and alcohol counselling and a needle and syringe program. 

RACGP Victoria Chair Dr Muñoz praised the latest drug testing expansion. 

“This is another key step forward in saving lives,” she said. 

“These sites are working. As of June, this year, the state’s mobile sites helped more than 1500 people and tested close to 1400 samples of illicit drugs. Every single one of those substances tested could contain a lethal substance that the person visiting the site didn’t even realise they were taking. 

“Not only are the sites free, they’re staffed by experts who can provide health information and talk to people about their substance use behaviours. This is another reason why mobile and fixed drug testing sites are so valuable. They allow people to talk to healthcare professionals, and it provides a key intervention that can help them change their illicit drug use patterns.  

“In Victoria, we know that 65% of those who used the services said that it was their first conversation with a health professional about drug and alcohol safety. What is even more promising is that over 30% of them said that they would take a smaller amount after having this conversation.” 

The College’s addiction medicine spokesperson Dr Marguerite Tracy backed Dr Muñoz’s calls. 

“The music festival season features many young people with their whole lives ahead of them. It’s a reality that some of them will take recreational illicit drugs, and they simply don’t know what they’re ingesting. If we can help them make an informed choice, it can make all the difference,” she said. 

“By expanding drug testing services to festivals, having fixed testing sites, and opening new medically supervised injecting facilities, we can support more people and potentially save more lives at risk. 

“We’re making steady progress and seeing momentum build across Australia. New South Wales has launched its own drug testing trial, the ACT has been doing so for many years, and I strongly urge other state and territory governments to consider starting their own drug testing schemes.” 

RACGP Victoria’s addiction medicine spokesperson Dr Eric Hadinata said the announcement couldn’t come at a more important time. 

“New and dangerous drugs are hitting Australia’s shores and taking lives,” he said. 

“This includes deadly synthetic opioids, nitazenes, which are many times stronger than fentanyl and hundreds of times more potent than heroin. 

“This latest announcement in Victoria is great news. Drug testing is not about condoning illicit drug use, and I encourage all my patients to steer clear of them. Rather, this is a commonsense harm minimisation measure proven in Australia, and around the world, to help save lives.   

“Every now and then I hear another world leader or politician declare yet another ‘war on drugs’. It’s vital to remember that drug overdoses don’t happen to ‘other people’, they happen to those dear to us. It impacts almost every family and friendship circle.

 “So, I ask you – how can you declare war on your own friends and family? Every life matters.”