Queensland has become the first Australian state to ban pill testing, making such operations illegal and forcing existing services to close in April.

The ban was enacted through recent amendments to the Medicines and Poisons Act by the Queensland government, led by the LNP, effectively outlawing the practice across the state.

The amendments prevent the state's Health Director-General from granting or renewing substance authorities for pill testing, resulting in the closure of testing sites like CheQpoint in Brisbane and Gold Coast.

Pill testing, also known as drug checking, involves chemically analyzing illicit substances to inform users of their contents and is considered lifesaving by medical professionals.

A University of Queensland report revealed that only 57% of drugs tested were what users believed they were, with many samples contaminated with dangerous substances like nitazenes.

Medical experts and opposition politicians warn that the ban could worsen the overdose crisis, which now causes more deaths than road accidents in Queensland, and could lead to increased drug-related emergencies.

Organizations like Pill Testing for Queensland Alliance argue that the ban endangers lives by removing harm reduction strategies, with opposition leader Steven Miles criticizing the government for prioritizing ideology over safety.

In April, the CheQpoint sites shut temporarily after losing $1.5 million in state funding; despite plans to reopen with private support, government threats have hindered their operation.

This move contrasts with Victoria's recent legislation, which legalized mobile pill testing, highlighting differing approaches to drug safety across Australian states.

The ban follows a government decision to terminate $1.5 million in funding for CheQpoint's pill testing services, which operated in Brisbane and the Gold Coast.

Under the previous Labor government, pill testing was supported, including clinics at music festivals and plans for additional services, but these were halted after the LNP came to power.