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I ran a police force and I’m not soft on drugs. This is why I’m backing a pill testing trial
I support Coroner Grahame’s call for a drug summit, not to achieve any preconceived outcomes but as an opportunity for honest and open discussion and as a commitment to action aimed at improving the lives of vulnerable people. Not a talk fest, an “action fest”. […]
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UN Organizations Unite In Call for International Drug Decriminalization
The UN Chief Executives Board (CEB), which represents 31 UN agencies including the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), adopted a position stipulating that member states should pursue science-based, health-oriented drug policies—namely decriminalization. […]
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New Zealand university students offered free drug-testing in ‘harm-prevention’ first
New Zealand university students offered free drug-testing in ‘harm-prevention’ first | World news | The Guardian Green party MP Chlöe Swarbrick said drug testing was in line with a health-based approach to illegal drug use, and was a positive step towards drug harm reduction. The Drug Foundation of New Zealand,…
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It’s time to change our drug dog policies to catch dealers, not low-level users at public events
Research has suggested the presence of drug detection dogs at festivals and other public places seldom deters drug-taking. But it often leads to more risky drug behaviour from people who use drugs, such as purchasing drugs inside rather than outside festivals, switching to less detectable but more harmful drugs, and hurried consumption of drugs…
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‘There’s no reason not to trial pill testing’: UNSW drug policy scholar stands firm on the evidence
Professor Alison Ritter has risen to national prominence in recent months due to her headline-making research on pill testing. Calls for pill testing have been continuously ignited by researchers and rejected by the NSW government, after six drug-related deaths at Australian music festivals in the last six months. “There seems…
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Alcohol, Tobacco and other Drugs Council of Tasmania supports pill testing at festivals
Alcohol, Tobacco and other Drugs Council of Tasmania chief executive Alison Lai said zero tolerance “cannot continue to be the only approach”. “The ATDC calls for the convening of an advisory committee of relevant stakeholders and experts to investigate options for trialing pill testing at Tasmania’s music festivals and events,” Ms…
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‘Don’t bury your head in the sand’: NZ police minister has spray at Australians over pill testing
Mr Nash, who supports pill testing but does not condone drug use, told Hack the current ‘tough on drugs’ approach was not working. “Young people are taking drugs at festivals, if we bury our head in the sand and say they’re not we’ll end up like you guys with five deaths,” he…
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Sunrise host delivers impassioned plea for government to consider pill testing, citing overwhelming stats
Sunrise’s entertainment host has called for a national debate about pill testing, citing the high numbers of Aussies who use illicit drugs and European countries that already conduct the practice. […]
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History, not harm, dictates why some drugs are legal and others aren’t
Whether you morally agree with drug use or not, the current drug laws are neither reducing harm nor stopping use. It’s time for a different approach. […]
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Drug overdoses mount as debate continues
Ms Berejiklian again ruled out any proposed pill-testing trials, saying instead that she hoped people were starting to heed a ‘just say no’ message. Last week the Australian College for Emergency Medicine (ACEM) and the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists added their support for pill-testing trials, joining the Australian Medical Association, Royal Australasian…
