- Published:
- Thursday 27 August 2026
The Carroll Labor Government’s pill testing service has marked one year of saving lives and reducing drug harm.
Launched in August 2025, close to 3,000 people have used the service, showing strong demand for trusted, non-judgmental health advice.
More than 5,000 drug samples have been tested and more than 2,500 conversations held between service users and experienced harm reduction workers.
Almost 40 per cent of people said it was the first time they had spoken to a health professional about their substance use.
Around 12 per cent of samples contained an unexpected psychoactive substance with the potential to cause serious harm.
The fixed site has issued 28 drug notifications, warning the community about dangerous substances, including two urgent alerts for nitazenes – synthetic opioids up to 1,000 times stronger than morphine.
It has also provided 700 units of the life-saving overdose reversal medication naloxone.
The service is complemented by a mobile service that has provided pill testing and health advice at 10 Victorian music festivals and events.
The service is delivered by experienced harm reduction organisations including the Youth Support and Advocacy Service, The Loop Australia and Harm Reduction Victoria.
Pill testing does not make drug use safe – but the evidence shows it helps people make safer and more informed choices.
Labor has invested more than $3 billion in drug treatment, support and harm reduction services, including a further $94.3 million in the Victorian Budget 2026/27.
Only a Labor Government will continue delivering the life-saving pill testing service.
A One Nation-Liberal Coalition’s $40 billion cuts plan would put these life-saving services and the Victorians who rely on them at risk.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Mental Health Ingrid Stitt
“Over the past year, our pill testing services have saved lives, reduced harm and connected thousands of Victorians with trusted health advice.”
“No drug is safe – but pill testing helps people make more informed choices and gives us vital information to warn the community about dangerous substances.”