A plea of heartbroken families has been answered. The Allan Labor Government has announced pill testing (aka drug checking) will become permanent after delivery models are trialled for up to 18 months at mobile and fixed site services.
The focus is on music festivals after Victorian paramedics responded to more drug overdoses at festivals in the first three months of 2024 than during all the year previously. A mobile chemical analysis service is set to be available this summer in time for the start of the festival season.
“The evidence tells us it changes behaviour. It’s a simple, commonsense way to save lives,” said premier Jacinta Allan, affirming pill testing as a harm reduction strategy aimed at reducing deaths, overdoses and ill health associated with "party drugs." Allen said on a video published on X watching her two children grow up has impacted her stance on the issue, “In a few years, they’ll be heading off to parties, to music festivals, and like all parents I catch myself thinking – what if the worst happens? What if one of them doesn’t make it home?”
Additionally, a fixed site will also open in mid-2025 located in an inner Melbourne area close to nightlife and transport. In Victoria, there were 46 overdose deaths in 2022 involving novel synthetic drugs, and a rise in drug-related ER admissions.
Research from 31 drug checking programs currently operating around the world and in Australia, using both fixed-site and event-based models, have already produced results saying pill-testing works. Victoria’s mobile and fixed site models will trial different models of delivery for an important health service that eventually will be in place permanently.
The decision couldn’t be more pressing as novel synthetic drugs, fentanyl and nitazenes, ooze into Australia’s drug supply. With healthcare being a state responsibility, grieving relatives urge for active measures to reduce drug-related risks. High-ranking officials, including the Victorian state coroner, have also voiced recommendations for the government to introduce drug testing.
The Pill Testing Pilot for Drug Harm Reduction Bill championed by the Greens and joint with the Animal Justice Party and Legalise Cannabis Victoria relates to the Victorian government's Statewide Action Plan to reduce drug harms. “Sniffer dogs will not save lives. Tough talk from cops and politicians will not save lives. Pill testing will,” said Victorian Greens drug harm reduction spokesperson, Aiv Puglielli MLC.
Present Mind has reached out to the premiere for information on which festivals pill testing will be available and which organisation will be delivering the service. We are waiting for a reply.
Present Mind stands firmly on the belief that providing drug checking does only good for communities. It saves lives, reduces harm, and creates an opportunity for education at a crucial moment before someone takes drugs.
While it is good news for ravers, Present Mind is fully supportive of providing the highest-quality care at the city-centre fixed site because people who live with drug addictions deserve care too.
Until pill testing is accessible, if you plan on taking drugs in Victoria, take care to check for drugs alerts for false or contaminated drug products circulating in the state. Head to health.vic.gov’s Drug Alerts page for the latest alerts.