Today, in Australia, five people will die from drug use. And this year, if it’s like any other, that number will climb to more than 2200.

It’s a sobering statistic none of us want to believe, and not much political capital is attached to fixing it either.

And that’s why the move by Queensland this week to commit to pill testing – both at fixed sites and at pop-up booths at music festivals – should be applauded and adopted in every other state.

While the ACT conducts pill tests and it is understood Victoria has at least sought advice around the issue, NSW has publicly warned pill testing is not a quick fix, and other states have not entertained any change of laws.

But the impetus to do that should be strong.

Just in the past month, 11 people in NSW who believed they were using cocaine or methamphetamine experienced an opioid overdose, a 23-year-old Melbourne music festival patron died of a suspected drug overdose and in Canberra, a counterfeit diet pill bought online was found........

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