Stereosonic says it would be open to pill testing

Australian festival Stereosonic has come out in support of pill testing after drug experts recently said they'd do it, with or without government support.

The Australian Drug Law Reform Foundation (ADLRF) has stated its desire to introduce programs at Sydney events and Totem OneLove, the company which runs the touring Stereosonic, has issued a statement declaring its keenness for such initiatives.

It reads: "In principle pill testing would have our full support as long as all the key stakeholders sanctioned the initiative to ensure its effectiveness.

"We would strongly support any policies or initiatives that would minimise harm, reduce drug use and make events a safer environment for patrons. Unfortunately drug use is an issue affecting all Australians and is not limited to events."

The festival coming out in support of such plans comes as no surprise as two people, one in Sydney and one in Adelaide, died after taking drugs at the event last year.

Dr Alex Wodak of ADLRF is looking to raise $100,000 to get the trials - which would see a machine testing pills and powders - rolled out, but the New South Wales government has stated that the organisation could be liable to manslaughter charges if a death still occurred.

[Via: news.com.au]

Dave Turner is Mixmag's Digital News Editor, follow him on Twitter here