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Gold Coast Schoolies: Pill Testing Cut Amidst Safety Concerns
21 Nov
Summary
- Graduating students will lack pill testing services at the 2025 Gold Coast schoolies.
- Parents express anxiety over their children's safety regarding alcohol and drugs.
- Previous year saw 27 samples tested despite opposition from government officials.
Graduating students embarking on their schoolies celebrations on the Gold Coast will face a notable change this year: the discontinuation of pill testing services at the Surfers Paradise hub. This decision impacts the cohort of 2025, who will not have access to the harm-reduction measures previously in place.
Parents are expressing understandable anxiety as their children venture off to the popular event. Concerns are particularly focused on ensuring students have a good time without succumbing to the risks associated with alcohol and drug consumption, especially given the lack of direct parental oversight.
In contrast to this year, last year's schoolies saw a temporary pill testing site operated by CheQpoint, which successfully tested 27 samples. This service proceeded despite initial opposition from the Queensland LNP government, highlighting a different approach to safety in previous years.
