<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><a href="http://www.9news.com.au/queensland" rel="" target="" title="Queensland"><span>Queensland</span></a><span> has become the first Australian state to ban pill testing after the LNP government rushed amendments through the state's single-house parliament overnight.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The move follows through on the government's promise prior to the election to close drug checking sites, as part of a "zero tolerance approach to illicit drugs".</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"The government's policy position, which it took to the election, is that there is no safe way to take drugs and that drug-checking services send the wrong message to Queenslanders," Health Minister Tim Nicholls said today.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/christopher-webster-doctor-erin-patterson-case-sanctioned/6b60e2f6-7b4a-4883-8338-699b90496d95" target="_blank"><strong><span>Doctor who blew whistle on mushroom murderer sanctioned</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The government scrapped $1.5 million in funding for pill testing service CheQpoint, which operated two drug checking sites in Brisbane and on the Gold Coast last year.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The sites, operated by not-for-profit The Loop, had been slated to re-open with private funding but now cannot do so.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"It's true that there is no safe way to do drugs," Cameron Francis from The Loop told </span><em><span>Today</span></em><span>.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/pill-testing-banned-in-queensland-health-minister-tim-nicholls-lnp-health-news/1056d68b-a096-49b4-8dbe-7d2d4b369447" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"In fact, the drugs are so dangerous that we need to test them and warn people about some of those dangerous contents that are out there."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The amendments to the Medicines and Poisons Act passed Queensland's single-house parliament last night.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>They prevent the chief executive of Queensland Health from granting or renewing future substance authorities for the purpose of drug checking and discontinue current substance authorities issued for the purpose of drug checking services.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Nicholls said this "aligns Queensland with other states including WA, SA and Tasmania".</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>While governments in those states are opposed to pill testing, Queensland is the only state to have outlawed it with legislation.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/new-zealand-man-issued-ticket-for-eight-second-car-park/5769995d-ed51-4c93-972a-0eef68d12198" target="_blank"><strong><span>'Obscene': Driver given ticket for 'eight seconds' in parking spot</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The vote coincided with the release of a previously suppressed report on drug checking by the University of Queensland that found "services provided valuable harm reduction through the provision of information about substances, drug interactions, drug policy, signs and responses to drug overdose and naloxone".</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>It found half of all clients intended to "change their substance use, most commonly via taking a smaller amount, spacing out doses or disposing of the substance".</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Follow-up surveys and interviews with clients found that many clients changed their actual behaviours: 2 in 5 clients reported not using the tested sample, 1 in 5 used less of the sample and 1 in 10 disposed of at least one tested sample," the report found.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>It recommended the government consider expanding funding, resources, staffing and technology at drug checking services across more locations to benefit the broader Queensland community.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The Australian Medical Association Queensland has urged the government to reverse its decision.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>President Dr Nick Yim said AMA Queensland was "disappointed" and "concerned these changes were made without appropriate consultation with stakeholders, or consideration of the evidence".</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>He said pill testing provided an "invaluable early warning system" about the kind of substances circulating in the community.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"We can only get that information through drug testing and it is vital because it educates the community about the risks of harm from drug use," Yim said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Testing clearly shows people that substances they have may not be what they think they are and could be far more dangerous.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"At a time when our public hospitals are under strain with ambulance ramping, measures that can reduce pressure on our emergency departments should be considered."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>He said the report showed 54 per cent of people who attended drug checking services had never spoken to a health professional about their drug use before.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"That is essential to preventing harm and deaths from substances," he said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"People at risk from drug use need health treatment and pill testing services put them in touch with the doctors and other health professionals they need."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>National Alcohol and Other Drug hotline 1800 250 015</span></strong></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><a href="https://www.fds.org.au/"><strong><span>Family Drug Support Australia</span></strong></a><span> </span><strong><span>24/7 Support Line – 1300 368 186</span></strong></div></div><div class="block-content"><div 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