The pill-testing trial at Groovin the Moo in Canberra has found some lethal and odd ingredients in what many festival-goers believed to be party drugs.

The Australian-first initiative led to the discovery of new drugs authorities were not aware were circulating in the ACT.

A total of 85 substances were tested at the music festival over the weekend in an Australian first by Safety and Testing and Advisory Service at Festivals and Events (STA-SAFE), with many consumers surprised by what was revealed.

They found some "quite pure … high quality" ecstasy, as well as cocaine and ketamine.

More troubling, though, was the discovery of two highly toxic chemicals, including the "absolutely lethal" N-Ethylpentylone (ephylone), which is responsible for a number of mass overdoses around the world.

STA-SAFE member and emergency doctor David Caldicott said ephylone is a stimulant that can cause circulation problems, lethal heart palpitations and hallucinations that can cause dangerous behaviour.

He said the two lethal substances were found inside clear capsules and were both disposed of immediately.

The two people who bought the capsules were "extremely grateful" that the toxic substances were found, he added.

The tests were conducted mostly on pills and capsules with some powders also examined.

"We found a Polish toothpaste in one of them; we found arnica, which is a muscle rub; we found Hammerite paint [a spray paint used on metal]," Dr Caldicott told ABC Radio Canberra.

"We found a whole bunch of very unusual products in many of these pills that the consumers would regard as duds."

Shock and anger from users after tests

Dr Caldicott said many people, who are not the sort of users who normally seek help, felt they had been misled by their dealers.

"Initially there's quite a lot of depression and sadness and occasionally some anger," he said.

"By coming to the tent to have their pill tested and to chat with the workers they've avoided a trip to hospital."

The crew at the medical tent were inside all day, offering consultations on drug use for 128 people, ranging in age from 17 to over 40.

But Dr Caldicott said the environment in which testing took place was "quite harsh" and that "direct measurements of purity were not possible with the equipment".

He advocated for further testing of the samples taken at the festival in laboratories with more "sensitive" machines.

Dr Caldicott said five people used the bin provided by the medical tent to get rid of their drugs, but said between 10 and 20 per cent said they were considering binning it.

"Certainly more than that were convinced that it would alter the way they would consume drugs on that day," he said.

People who utilised the pill testing were given armbands to show that they had done so, but none of the 86 people treated by first-aid workers were wearing them, according to the ambulance commander on Sunday.

Toby Keane said the vast majority of people who were treated on the day were under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

He said that two people were taken to hospital for "acute intoxication", but neither of them were wearing the armbands.

Mr Keane said the number of people treated was on par with previous years.

Of course. Why could we have been so stupid, its all about arming young people with lethal fireams. The solution is staring us right in the face, we just need to look at the U.S.

Groovin the Moo pill tests find lethal stimulant, paint and toothpaste in drugs
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By showing people just what is in the pills they were intending to take, it is making some people reconsider taking illicit drugs.

Politicians from across the divide say more pill testing trials at music festivals will save lives.

"How many funerals do we have to go to of people that have taken these substances and found out they're not what they're sold?" federal Liberal backbencher Warren Entsch said.

Federal Labor backbencher senator Lisa Singh said: "If we are going to get serious about harm minimisation, then pill testing at a health facility at a music festival without fear of police needs to be an option."

The comments followed an Australia-first pill testing trial at Canberra's Groovin the Moo festival on Sunday.

About 128 revellers made use of the service.

Among the 85 substances identified were paint and body rub, used to cut illegal drugs.

Severely toxic stimulants were also found and disposed of, pill testing organisers said.

Pill testing 'could help educate young drug users'

Earlier this week, federal Liberal backbencher Craig Kelly said he was against pill testing, though he supported harm minimisation.

He said the service risked encouraging illegal drug abuse by condoning the use of pills deemed less harmful.

But Mr Entsch said the service could provide valuable data to help educate young drug users.

"Drug dealers are not in there in the interests of those wanting to participate in these drugs," he said.

"They are interested in relieving them of their money in any way they can, and they don't give a stuff whether the person gets a high or it puts them in the grave."

Senator Singh, the deputy chair of a parliamentary inquiry that looked into drug law enforcement late last year, said the time had come for a general national conversation about reform of drug laws.

"This is about saving lives, and if that is the message we're talking about here in relation to harm minimisation, then pill testing needs to be part of a suite of harm minimisation measures offered," she said.

In a statement, federal Health Minister Greg Hunt said the issue of pill testing was a state matter.

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Drugs are bad, mmmmkay?