{{Short description|Pill testing service in Canberra, Australia}} thumb '''CanTEST''' is a harm reduction and pill testing service based in Canberra, Australia.<ref>{{Cite web |title=CanTEST |url=https://cantest.com.au/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250531025318/https://cantest.com.au/ |archive-date=31 May 2025 |access-date=17 November 2025 |website=CanTEST}}</ref> The service is free and confidential, providing chemical analysis and harm reduction advice from registered nurses and qualified peer workers. CanTEST was established in July 2022 and was the first fixed-site pill testing service in Australia. The service was initially granted a six-month pilot but has since been renewed for continuous operation until at least June 2027.<ref>{{Cite news |date=19 June 2024 |title=CanTEST drug checking service extended |url=https://greens.org.au/act/news/cantest-drug-checking-service-extended |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250504133222/https://greens.org.au/act/news/cantest-drug-checking-service-extended |archive-date=4 May 2025 |access-date=17 November 2025 |work=The ACT Greens |pages=1}}</ref> The service publishes monthly reports detailing the results of pill testing and harm reduction advice including the average purity of substances and the post-checking likelihood of use.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022 |title=Test Results |url=https://cantest.com.au/results/#1753400793168-3a62e954-62a9 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250311053214/https://cantest.com.au/results/#1753400793168-3a62e954-62a9 |archive-date=11 March 2025 |access-date=17 November 2025 |website=CanTEST}}</ref> Results from the report indicated that 70% of users had never previously accessed a healthcare worker for information or advice about drug use, with 98% of those using the service recommending it to others.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Olsen |first=A |last2=Baillie |first2=G |last3=Bruno |first3=R |last4=McDonald |first4=D |last5=Hammoud |first5=M |last6=Peacock |first6=A |date=April 2023 |title=CanTEST Health and Drug Checking Service Program Evaluation: Final Report |url=https://cantest.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/CanTEST-Final-Evaluation-Report_2023.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250315135018/https://cantest.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/CanTEST-Final-Evaluation-Report_2023.pdf |archive-date=15 March 2025 |access-date=17 November 2025 |website=CanTEST}}</ref>
CanTEST results have since been reported to the community through social media and news articles with the impact of individual test results often reaching beyond the original client. CanTEST has identified multiple drugs which have never been detected anywhere else before, 2F-NENDCK (also known as CanKet) was detected in August 2022.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Roberts |first=Georgia |date=19 October 2022 |title=Australia's first fixed pill testing service CanTEST discovers new drug, dubbed 'CanKet' |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-10-19/new-drug-canket-discovered-act-pill-testing-site/101546266 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241203144850/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-10-19/new-drug-canket-discovered-act-pill-testing-site/101546266 |archive-date=3 December 2024 |access-date=17 November 2025 |work=Australian Broadcasting Corporation}}</ref> Since CanTEST has begun operations, other trials have been conducted in NSW, Victoria, and Queensland.<ref>{{Cite web |date=29 August 2025 |title=Pill testing in Australia |url=https://adf.org.au/insights/pill-testing-australia/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250909011229/https://adf.org.au/insights/pill-testing-australia/ |archive-date=9 September 2025 |access-date=17 November 2025 |website=Alcohol and Drug Foundation}}</ref> Pill testing has since been banned in Queensland by their choice not to renew the CheQpoint pill-testing facility, however operations are continuing in New South Wales and Victoria as of November 2025.
==References== {{Reflist}}
Category:Organizations established in 2022 Category:Drug policy of Australia