Victorian Pill Testing Service welcomes fixed site service trial in Fitzroy
Youth Support and Advocacy Service (YSAS), The Loop Australia and Harm Reduction Victoria, in partnership with the Royal Melbourne Hospital, Youth Projects and Metabolomics Australia (University of Melbourne) collectively welcome the announcement by the Victorian Government of the fixed site location for the Victorian Pill Testing Service at 95 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy.
Building on the success of our mobile drug checking service at five music festivals this past summer, the fixed site service marks an important step forward in Victoria’s health-led approach to reducing drug harms. By establishing a fixed site in Fitzroy, we’re building a service that meets the diverse needs of our whole community, not just those who attend events.
Scheduled to open in August 2025 for up to 12 months, the service will provide access to free, confidential and anonymous substance analysis. The fixed site acknowledges the reality that people use substances for many different reasons in many different contexts and ensures that health information and support without stigma is accessible to everyone, regardless of their story or situation.
Using advanced laboratory equipment, our team will be able to detect a wide range of substances, including high-risk synthetic opioids. People who visit the service will receive personalised harm reduction consultations with health professionals and peer workers and can access referrals to additional health and social supports when needed. The service will also strengthen Victoria’s drug early warning systems, enhancing the state’s ability to monitor and respond to emerging drug trends, generating community alerts when threats are detected.
With increasingly unpredictable substances in circulation, our service empowers people to make safer, more informed decisions through accurate information and non-judgmental support. Results from our mobile service have already demonstrated effectiveness, with more than 30% of service users reporting they would take a smaller amount of their drugs after receiving their results and speaking with our health workers, including peer workers. This aligns with evidence from over 30 similar programs worldwide, showing that when people learn about unexpected or dangerous substances in their drugs, they often change their behaviour to minimise risks.
Harm reduction services like the Victorian Pill Testing Service represent a vital part of the health and community system. These services reach people who may not regularly engage with harm reduction services. By creating welcoming, judgment-free spaces, we provide pathways for people who use drugs to receive personalised harm reduction information and connect with additional supports they might otherwise miss.
As we prepare to open, we’re committed to working closely with the local community, being respectful neighbours, and contributing positively to the area while delivering one of Victoria’s health-led initiatives to reduce drug harms.
To learn more about this service and our work click here.
If you have any questions, please contact vicpilltesting@ysas.org.au
For media enquiries, please contact ellie@firesideagency.com.au or call 0426 604 066.