Canberra chemists identify three new recreational drugs after mystery substances turn up at Australia's only fixed pill-testing site
1 year, 2 months ago

Canberra chemists identify three new recreational drugs after mystery substances turn up at Australia's only fixed pill-testing site

ABC  

Three mysterious recreational drugs have surfaced for the first time in Australia with chemists describing them as "unexpected, new psychoactive substances". Key points: Chemists expose three previously unknown recreational drugs after CanTEST clients put forward mystery substances The drugs were wholly different to what the user had believed Pill-testing advocates say the service is showing its value in detecting substances and alerting the public Users had presented the trio of previously unknown drugs to Canberra's fixed pill-testing site, CanTEST, within the past six months. Steph Tzanetis, of Pill Testing Australia and Directions Health, agreed, adding that the current illicit drug market consisted of "a lot of unknown drugs". Pill Testing Australia's Steph Tzanetis, who is also coordinator for Directions Health at CanTEST, says CanTEST is helping to lower risks around recreational drug use.

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History of this topic

What did Australia's first fixed-site drug checking service CanTEST find in its first two years?
7 months ago

What did Australia's first fixed-site drug checking service CanTEST find in its first two years?

ABC  

Australia's first fixed-site drug checking service found meth in a counterfeit diet pill and a synthetic opioid thought to be 25 times stronger than fentanyl in its first two years of operation. Mean drug purity First year Second year Cocaine 23% 76% Heroin 44% 72% Ketamine 68% 79% MDMA 58% 69% Meth 72% 77% "The data shows noteworthy changes in …

Canberra pill testing service CanTEST issues red alert after finding synthetic opioid N-pyrrolidino protonitazene in brown powder
10 months ago

Canberra pill testing service CanTEST issues red alert after finding synthetic opioid N-pyrrolidino protonitazene in brown powder

ABC  

In short: Canberra's pill testing service CanTEST has found N-pyrrolidino protonitazene in brown granular powder presented for testing. Canberra's pill testing service CanTEST has found N-pyrrolidino protonitazene in brown granular powder presented for testing. Chemists at Canberra's pill testing service, CanTEST, issued a red community notice on social media on Saturday after discovering the synthetic opioid N-pyrrolidino protonitazene in a …

Canberra pill-testing service finds methamphetamine in counterfeit diet pill
1 year ago

Canberra pill-testing service finds methamphetamine in counterfeit diet pill

ABC  

In short: Scientists at Australia's first drug-checking site found meth in a diet pill which was presented for testing. Scientists at Australia's first drug-checking site found meth in a diet pill which was presented for testing. Canberra's drug-checking site, CanTEST, has issued a community notice after methamphetamine was found in a counterfeit diet pill. Steve Imrie is the director of …

New drugs mean more risk of overdose. Experts say we need more pill testing now
1 year, 1 month ago

New drugs mean more risk of overdose. Experts say we need more pill testing now

ABC  

At least once a fortnight, Zach, a Sydney man in his early 30s, consumes an illicit drug. Chemistry lead of CanTEST, Australia's only fixed-site drug checking service, Malcolm McLeod told ABC RN's Life Matters that "around 10 per cent to 15 per cent of samples maybe not as expected". In January, CanTEST confirmed the discovery of three previously unidentified drugs …

Pill testing to go ahead on-site at Spilt Milk festival in Canberra
1 year, 3 months ago

Pill testing to go ahead on-site at Spilt Milk festival in Canberra

ABC  

Pill testing will on Saturday be available on-site at an Australian music festival for the first time since 2019. Key points: Pill Testing Australia will provide free, on-site drug testing at Spilt Milk in Canberra Groovin the Moo in Canberra was the first in the country to trial free pill testing in 2018 The confidential service will be available to …

What did Australia's first drug-checking site CanTEST find in its inaugural year?
1 year, 8 months ago

What did Australia's first drug-checking site CanTEST find in its inaugural year?

ABC  

From pink cocaine and dangerous opioids to a never-before-seen drug dubbed CanKet, Australia's first fixed-site drug-checking service has made history-making discoveries in 12 months. CanTEST providing 'critical information' The final report on CanTEST's performance during that time, conducted by university researchers, found the centre was "associated with behaviour change such as discarding, non-use and harm reduction behaviours with use". "Half …

ACT extends confidential pill-testing service CanTEST as evaluation shows most users discard tainted drugs
2 years, 2 months ago

ACT extends confidential pill-testing service CanTEST as evaluation shows most users discard tainted drugs

ABC  

Canberra's confidential pill-testing service, which allows people to check what substances are in the illicit drugs they buy, has been extended. Key points: The trial will be extended until at least August About 21 per cent of drugs checked have not been what users expected An evaluation has found the service is encouraging drug users to be safer The free …

Canberra's pill-testing service discovers deadly substance in counterfeit oxycodone tablets
2 years, 2 months ago

Canberra's pill-testing service discovers deadly substance in counterfeit oxycodone tablets

ABC  

Canberra's free pill-testing service has found a dangerous substance linked to fatal overdoses in "fake" prescription drugs. Key points: A potent, synthetic opioid has been detected in Canberra The substance is linked to an epidemic of fatal overdoses in North America The government urges Canberrans who bought yellow tablets, thinking they were oxycodone, to dispose of the drugs The ACT …

What's in the drugs that are being tested at Australia's first fixed-site pill testing clinic in the ACT?
2 years, 3 months ago

What's in the drugs that are being tested at Australia's first fixed-site pill testing clinic in the ACT?

ABC  

From workout supplements in cocaine to children's cough medicine in MDMA — Australia's first fixed-site pill testing clinic has found some unusual ingredients in drugs. Key points: Five hundred samples have been collected by CanTEST since it opened in July this year The latest results have revealed some drugs contain children's cough medicine, pre-work out supplements and pesticide The six-month …

Australia's first fixed pill testing service CanTEST discovers new drug, dubbed 'CanKet'
2 years, 5 months ago

Australia's first fixed pill testing service CanTEST discovers new drug, dubbed 'CanKet'

ABC  

Australia's first fixed pill testing site has discovered a new recreational drug not seen in the country before. Key points: A new drug has been discovered by scientists at Canberra's fixed pill testing site The drug has chemical similarities to ketamine, traditionally used for veterinary conditions Researchers are yet to learn the side effects of 'CanKet' Scientists from the Australian …

Australian breakthrough tackles drug cheats
15 years, 3 months ago

Australian breakthrough tackles drug cheats

ABC  

The secretive world of sporting drug cheats could be set for a shake-up. "What we can do is analyse things such as testosterone, metabolites and other compounds that are used in the steroid area, in particular anabolic agents," RMIT's Professor Philip Marriott told Australia Network. The new method also allows old samples to be tested for previously undetectable drugs, meaning …

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