New South Wales to introduce year-long pill testing trial at music festivals
Festivals across the Australian state will provide anonymous testing facilities
A year-long pill testing trial has commenced at music festivals in New South Wales, Australia, following years of backing by drug reform advocates.
The plan was announced by the Minns government in December, detailing how festivals across the region will introduce anonymous drug testing facilities for the next 12 months.
Pill testing sites will allow festivalgoers to test a small sample for purity, potency, and adulterants, according to The Guardian.
The scheme has been backed by harm reduction advocates across the state, and was discussed at New South Wales’ second ever drug summit in November 2024 before its introduction.
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The Guardian reports that the state’s health minister, Ryan Park, opted to go ahead with the 12-month pilot after co-chairs backed its implementation at the summit.
“As I’ve always said, there are no silver bullets here, but if there are any further steps we can take to keep young people safe this festival season, we’ll listen to the experts and the evidence,” Park said.
Recommendations will be handed down to the health minister this year, per reports. The trial comes amid further harm reduction backing over recent years, including calls for New South Wales to follow the Australian Capital Territory in decriminalising drugs.
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“The trial has a clear purpose – to reduce harm and save lives,” explained state premier, Chris Minns. “No parent wants to be given the news that something has happened to their child at a music festival, and that they are now in an emergency department or worse.”
The minister for police and counter-terrorism, Yasmin Catley, said that law enforcement officers “will not change their approach” to drug supplying at trial sites. “Anyone attempting to supply drugs can expect to be targeted by a police operation and brought before the courts.”
[Via The Guardian]
Gemma Ross is Mixmag's Assistant Editor, follow her on Twitter