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‘Thirty years of failed drugs policy’: Rainbow Serpent organisers defend festival
The issue is created by 30 years of failed drugs policy, and we’re still waiting for governments to catch up,” Mr Harvey told ABC radio’s Jon Faine. “We are the people trying to do our best to meet these challenges and we are waiting for governments and other organisations to…
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How many more young people have to die before we embrace pill testing?
Will pill testing stop drug deaths at music festivals? According to similar measures taken in Europe, it very well might. But even if it doesn’t, surely we have to try. […]
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‘I Can’t Imagine What You Go Through’: Emotional Scenes As Pill Testing Petition Delivered
Daley said his position on pill testing had not changed, but that he was open to hearing evidence it worked, pointing to injecting rooms being established after the historic 1999 drug summit convened by former Premier Bob Carr.”People were furiously opposed to that, but no one could say now that…
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Psychiatrists cancel cannabis debate after no one would argue for criminalising users
A debate on whether criminalising people who use cannabis protects against mental ill health did not take place because no one agreed to argue that current UK law protects the health of people who take the drug. […]
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NSW’s resistance to pill testing will drive dealers to sell ‘more dangerous drugs’, ACT warns
In a letter sent to NSW premier Gladys Berejiklian on Wednesday, Rattenbury cited advice from prominent pill-testing advocate Alex Wodak that the ACT’s support for pill testing could encourage dealers to offload lower-quality drugs in NSW. “We also wish to bring to your attention an alarming potential unintended consequence for NSW if the…
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‘You will not be reported to the police’: state’s plan to protect revellers at festivals
At a pill testing demonstration on Tuesday, president of Harm Reduction Australia Gino Vumbaca said he understood politicians were nervous about pill testing, but the evidence showed it reduced harm. “I understand it’s difficult for a lot of MPs, but really, we can’t continue to allow what is happening to…
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Meet The Machine That Gives The DNA Of A Pill Right Down To The Type Of Paint
In a crowded room in Sydney, pill testing advocates unveiled the machine used to analyse drugs and explained patiently how their process would work to stop overdoses and save lives. The group outlined how pill testing schemes, far from giving a so-called “green light” to potential drug users, could be…
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PSA supports pill testing trial
Following several recent deaths from illicit drug use at festivals, the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia has said that pill testing and drug checking services should be trialled in Australia. PSA National President Dr Chris Freeman says PSA believes further pill testing trials should be conducted at music festivals and other environments where illicit…
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Crossbench to use numbers to pressure Victorian Government to introduce pill testing
Victoria’s diverse Upper House crossbench is demanding the Andrews Government undertake a trial of pill testing, and is vowing to make the issue a key matter in the Parliament. […]
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Greens MP admits to drug use in a bid to bring ‘honesty’ to pill testing debate
Greens MP Cate Faehrmann has admitted that she has “taken MDMA in my 20s and occasionally through my 30s and 40s” in what she says is a bid to bring “honesty” to the debate around recreational drug use in NSW. In an opinion piece written for the Herald, Ms Faehrmann told of…
