Victorian Pill Testing Service

Why we need pill testing

The Victorian Pill Testing Service aims to reduce drug harm and save lives.

Victoria has seen a rise in drug-related emergency department admissions and overdose deaths involving novel synthetic drugs.

About half of Australian adults have used drugs at some point in their lives. With new and highly potent drugs circulating, the risk of harm and overdose is increasing.

Pill testing can detect life-threatening substances and reduce potential harms by giving people the information they need to make safer and informed decisions.

The service contributes to community safety by reducing drug-related harm and providing insights into emerging drug market trends.

Evidence shows that pill testing doesn't encourage people to use drugs. It allows people to see what's really in their substances, so they can make informed choices.

Fixed site pill testing service in Fitzroy

The Victorian Pill Testing Service is located at 95 Brunswick Street Fitzroy.

The free, walk-in service is close to public transport, nightlife, community health and social services. It provides year-round access to confidential testing, health and harm reduction advice.

The service operates three days a week, opening:

• Thursdays 10 am – 4 pm
• Fridays 1 pm – 7 pm
• Saturdays 1 pm – 7 pm

In its first year of operation, the service has become a trusted source of information, advice and support, of Victorians make safer, more informed choices.

For details visit the Victorian Pill Testing Service website.

Mobile pill testing service

The mobile service attended 10 events as part of the Victorian Government’s pill testing implementation trial.

More than 2600 people used the service over two festival seasons. To date, the mobile service has:

• tested almost 2500 samples across 10 events
• had more than 1400 harm reduction conversations
• issued 5 notifications, helping provide early warnings about unexpected or concerning substances to the community.

Data from the events shows the service's focus on harm reduction is working. For more than half of service users, it was the first time they had talked to a health professional about drug and alcohol safety. More than 30% said they would take a smaller amount after having this conversation.

Events for 2025-26 music festival season: Spilt Milk, Dangerous Goods 6XXL, Victoria’s Pride Street Party, Pitch Music and Arts Festival and Shadows of Wonderland.

Events for 2024-25 music festival season: Beyond The Valley, Hardmission, Pitch Music and Arts Festival, Ultra and The Warehouse Project.

Events for the 2026-27 music festival season will be announced later this year.

Read more about the mobile service on the Victorian Pill Testing Service website.

About the pill testing service

The pill testing service is staffed by trained peer workers, along with scientists and harm reduction healthcare workers. Drawing on their experience of drug use, peer workers create a welcoming, non-judgemental environment where people feel safe to ask questions and seek advice.

The service can test the make-up of most pills, capsules, powders, crystals and liquids. It can’t test plants, edibles or very diluted substances.

A consortium of 3 trusted and experienced organisations is delivering Victoria's first pill testing service. It consists of lead service provider Youth Support and Advocacy Service (YSAS), The Loop Australia and Harm Reduction Victoria, with support from Youth Projects, Melbourne Health, and Metabolomics Australia (University of Melbourne).

Changes to the Drugs, Poisons and Controlled Substances Act 1981 provides protections for the services, for its staff, and for its clients – so no one is breaking the law by operating or using the pill testing service.

The service is a key part of Victoria's strategy to reduce drug harms and save lives. It adds to initiatives underway in the Statewide Action Plan.

What to expect at a pill testing service

At the pill testing service, people are asked to provide a small sample of their drugs. This is usually a tiny scraping of a pill or a bit of powder that a scientist will analyse.

A harm reduction worker provides the test results and offers tailored advice. This includes information about expected and unexpected substances and how the drug may interact with prescription medications and existing health conditions.

For many, this will be the first time they've had a chance to talk openly with a health professional about drug use in a private, judgement-free space.

It is a free, walk-in service. No appointment is needed.

Find out more at Victorian Pill Testing Service.