What is so extraordinary about where we are in Tasmania and Australia is the support from the community for pill testing, amazing support. In Tasmania, as well as the Tasmanian branches of each of these bodies, the Royal Australasian College of Physicians, the Royal Australasian College of General Practitioners, the Australian College of Emergency Medicine, Rural Doctors Association, Australian Medical…

“Harm reduction or a health focused approach to drug law reform is not a single party issue; it’s public health. So it’s fantastic that two of the minor parties have joined together for this,” Stephanie Tzanetis, DanceWize Program Coordinator, told Neos Kosmos. Pill testing continues to be a controversial topic, but as a public health issue, Ms Tzanetis it shouldn’t…

Premier Daniel Andrews has again rejected the proposal to test drugs at music festivals, reiterating that his government’s policy will not change and supports the stance of the Victoria Police. ‘There’s nothing wrong with a debate about these things, that’s fine, but we’ve been very clear … even so-called “pure” versions of these drugs can kill you. […]

Former federal police commissioner and Take Control spokesperson Mick Palmer said governments must start treating drug use as a health issue if they want to reduce harm. “Locking people up who actually need healthcare doesn’t get the drug issue under control. If we are to help people, we need to rethink our approach. […]

Lord mayor Sally Capp has backed a controversial pill-testing trial in Melbourne despite Premier Daniel Andrews reiterating the government’s opposition to the proposal. “I do not endorse anyone taking illicit drugs – but in the face of evidence that people are taking these drugs we simply cannot stick our heads in the sand,” Cr Capp said. […]

I am a scientist, a chemist and a toxicologist. I’ve read the data. I’ve looked at the evidence. Part of my job is disseminating scientific evidence to the general public. So, let me disseminate: pill testing is a viable option for harm reduction in Australia. No methodology is going to be a perfect fix. […]

Delivering her findings on Friday, deputy state coroner Harriet Grahame said there was “compelling” evidence to support pill testing, which could “prompt behavioural change”. “Drug checking is simply an evidence-based harm reduction strategy that should be trialled as soon as possible in NSW,” she said. Ms Grahame said high-visibility and punitive policing operations at festivals had “inherent dangers and few…

In landmark findings published on Friday, Harriet Grahame recommended pill-testing be introduced and said she was satisfied there was “significant evidence” that “intensive and punitive drug policing operations” were increasing “drug-related risks and harm”. Drug dogs had “the capacity to cause harm without strong evidence it is effective in reducing overall drug supply”. […]

Ms Ross-King will on Friday stand beside drug law reform campaigners former Australian Federal Police commissioner Mick Palmer and Matt Noffs, who are vocal backers of pill testing and decriminalisation of personal drug use. “I would expect to be sincerely urging the Premier to take the recommendations seriously, and to do everything necessary to reduce drug related harms and to…

We need a functioning and cohesive international system. As is now the case for the environment, drug policy at the multilateral level requires a “Delivering as One” UN approach, incorporating issues related to development, public health, human rights, social justice and poverty eradication, order to effectively address the primary stated concern of the 1961 treaty for “the health and welfare…