2016-03-15
Launched today, the Keep Canberra Safe campaign is urging Labor to protect the young people in our community by taking a new health-focused approach to drug use and trialling a pill testing service, said ACT Greens leader Shane Rattenbury MLA.
“The law and order approach to drug use hasn’t worked, and across Australia people are getting sick, and dying, as a result,” Mr Rattenbury said.
“It’s time for a new health-focused and evidence-based approach to drug use, and the first step is for the ACT Labor party to commit to a government supported pill testing trial.
“We have to accept that despite all the efforts on enforcement and education, some young people still take illicit drugs – and in this situation the right thing to do is to try to minimize the tragic harm and deaths that can result.
“That’s why the ACT Greens are today launching the Keep Canberra Safe campaign and asking Canberrans to join with us by signing a petition calling for a pill testing trial here in the ACT.
Already this year, three young people have died in Melbourne from drug overdoses and at least 20 have been hospitalised. Two young men from the Hunter region of NSW also died horrific deaths after overdosing on synthetic drugs.
“Ongoing political inaction on this issue is allowing this harm to continue and is failing to meet community expectations to keep our young people safe.
“The ACT has a real opportunity as a progressive jurisdiction to lead the way in harm minimisation, and influence other states and territories to follow suit. It’s important that we not only keep Canberrans safe in the ACT, but also when they travel interstate for festivals.
“The case for pill testing is well established. It has been happening in several European countries for years and is proven to lower the level of drug use and keep people alive.
Pill testing involves a simple, on-site test by medical experts, using portable laboratory grade equipment, that allows festival-goers to have a pill or pill scraping tested for toxic impurities that could harm or potentially kill them. This information can quickly be communicated publicly to warn people of specific dangers, preventing potential injuries and deaths.
“The reality is that most drug takers are unaware of the origin and chemical make-up of what they put into their body. For example, the MDMA content in an ecstasy tablet can vary widely and new synthetic drugs are constantly appearing on the market.
“Even more concerning is that many pills contain a range of substances from tranquilisers to amphetamines, which means users are effectively playing Russian roulette every time they take something.
For a pill-testing trial to be successful, it will require the co-operation of Government, health experts, police, festival organisers and the broader community.
“Without proper pill testing we will continue to place our young people at considerable risk that could otherwise be avoided. That’s why I’m urging Chief Minister Barr to keep Canberra safe by committing to a pill testing trial before more young people are harmed,” concluded Mr Rattenbury.