What are drug checking services?
Drug checking is a free, voluntary and confidential service that people can use to find out what is in a drug or substance they plan to use. It’s also called pill testing.
It works by testing the chemical make-up of a drug or substance to find out what components are in it. Drug checking can be done with pills, capsules, powders, crystals and liquids including drugs such as MDMA, ketamine, LSD or cocaine.
Drug checking services are confidential harm reduction services. They can be set up at places such as events and festivals or fixed locations including at health services.
If someone brings a drug or substance for testing, staff at the service will analyse it for them. Staff will not give the drug or substance back and they’ll never tell someone that drug use is safe.
Staff can also provide information about drug use and the risks of using drugs.
Learn more about Queensland Health’s mental health, alcohol and other drug services and programs
Why it’s important
Drug checking services help people make more informed decisions about using drugs. This can help reduce the risk of harm.
It also helps people engage with health professionals who can help them get more support if they need it.
Drug checking also checks for dangerous substances in drugs. We can use this information in public health warnings to help people stay safe.
What we’re doing
We’re investing over $1 million for drug checking services in 2024 and 2025. The investment includes:
- 2 fixed location drug checking services in south-east Queensland
- event based drug checking for events such as music festivals
- an evaluation of state funded drug checking services and a monitoring framework for Queensland.
Our investment is based on:
- consultation with our communities and people with lived experience
- evidence and models of service from existing drug checking services in Europe, the United Kingdom, Canada and New Zealand
- results from the introduction of drug checking in other parts of Australia.
We’ve partnered with experienced service providers to deliver these services.
Pill Testing Australia will provide event based drug checking services.
CheQpoint is providing fixed location and event based drug checking services. CheQpoint is a partnership between:
- Queensland Injectors Health Network
- The Loop Australia
- Queensland Injectors Voice for Advocacy and Action.
We’ve also engaged the University of Queensland’s Institute for Social Science Research to evaluate the introduction of state funded drug checking. This evaluation will help inform ongoing models for drug checking services in Queensland.
Requirements for providers offering drug checking services
Our requirements set out how service providers must manage and provide drug checking services in Queensland.
All service providers in Queensland must comply with the requirements. This includes state funded and privately funded services.
Read our Requirements for drug checking services in Queensland (PDF 940 kB). The requirements include guidance on:
- approval and compliance with Queensland regulations including the Medicines and Poisons (Poisons and Prohibited Substances) Regulation 2021
- engagement with Queensland Health, Queensland Police Service and Queensland Ambulance Service
- health, safety and quality frameworks service providers must comply with.
If you’re a service provider interested in providing drug checking services, email Mhaod-spb-corro@health.qld.gov.au for more information.
Help for clients or carers
If you’re looking to find a drug checking service you can go to CheQpoint. Get directions and check the opening hours on the CheQpoint website.
If you're concerned about your own or someone else's substance use, call Adis 24/7 Alcohol and Drug Support on 1800 177 833. You can also visit their website for more information or to chat with a counsellor online.
You can also find support from the following organisations.