Local health organisation calls for drug checking services

Ballarat Community Health is calling on the State Government to implement drug checking services in the state.

The health organisation is one of over 70 signing a shared letter by the Victorian Alcohol and Drug Association to the State Government.

A drug checking service allows people to find out what’s in their drugs, whilst also discussing their drug use in a meeting with a healthcare worker.

The call is in response to a surge in fatal overdoses of novel psychoactive sustances, which can mimic other drugs but are often more harmful.

Drug checking services are currently running in the ACT, with Queensland to launch services next year.