2019-05-01
With Canberra’s second pill testing trial now complete, the ACT Government needs to work with pill testers to create a sustainable model, the ACT Greens say.
It comes following the success of the ACT’s second pill testing trial at Groovin the Moo on Sunday, which saw at least seven potentially fatal substances binned, rather than consumed—and many saying that they would reconsider their drug use.
“Canberra is proof positive that pill testing can help save young lives,” ACT Greens spokesperson for Drug Law Reform Shane Rattenbury said today.
“We know that the war on drugs hasn’t worked. We have to accept that despite all the efforts on enforcement and education, some young people still take illicit drugs. The right thing to do is to try to minimise the tragic harm and deaths that can result.
“The efforts from groups such as Pill Testing Australia, together with the ACT Government, ACT Policing and ACT Health to realise pill testing in the ACT, marks a major achievement in realising a harm reduction approach.
“So far, Pill Testing Australia has donated their time to ensure that fewer young people come to harm as a result of their illicit drug use. Government has contributed in-kind support through approval processes and partnerships. We need to find a model that makes this sustainable, whether through Government funding, philanthropic support or contributions from festival organisers, given how important pill testing is as a public health measure.
“In potentially saving young lives, the Greens believe this is money well spent.”
What next?
The Greens will continue to advocate for pill testing at all Canberra music festivals: with our Federal Greens colleagues making the case for pill testing at festivals across the country.
We also know that people consume illicit ‘party drugs’ outside of music festivals.
The ACT Greens believe we should also consider pill testing outside of music festivals, further reducing the potential harm from drug use.
In countries like the Netherlands, pill testing is already the norm, with testing available at health centres on a regular basis.
Statement ends