“Drug checking has been framed as a festival-based thing, to test for recreational drugs. But what we’re seeing in fixed locations is a huge diversity of people, including people who are purchasing prescription medications online because they can’t afford them here,” Francis said.
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“They’re buying cheaper medications from overseas and then bringing them in for testing because they’re worried about counterfeits.”
Francis said counterfeit benzodiazepines such as Xanax, a drug prescribed to treat anxiety and promote relaxation, had been frequently presented for testing since the site opened in April.
“We see a lot of people with mental health problems who can’t get access to [or afford] mental health treatment in the public system, so they start self-medicating.
“There’s also people experiencing chronic pain who can’t get their pain managed properly, so they end up sourcing medications on the internet.
“It’s a much more diverse range of clients that we see than people might realise.”
The Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission’s latest Illicit Drug Data Report showed most (64 per cent) pharmaceutical detections at the Australian border in 2020-21 were benzodiazepines.
However, the number of opioid detections increased 1215 per cent, from 39 in 2011-12 to a record 513 in 2020-21.
Signs of nitazene overdose are similar to heroin and include feeling excessive drowsiness/slumping over (“on the nod”); pinpoint pupils; being cold and clammy; and blue tinge to the lips or nails.
CheQpoint advises anyone noticing signs and symptoms to call 000 and administer naxolene, a drug that can reverse or reduce the effects of opioids and is made available for free at CheQpoint and participating pharmacies.
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