Policies that punish relapse with jail time and keep sufferers from proven treatments are part and parcel of a nearly 50-year war on drugs, predicated almost entirely on criminalization, that no reasonable person would say is working. It costs about $33,000 a year to imprison someone for a nonviolent drug offense and $6,000 to treat someone with MAT. […]

MATOD Summit Communique May 2018 […]

A parliamentary committee in the Northern Territory will examine the possibility of decriminalising all drugs, as Chief Minister Michael Gunner opened the door to a new “health ­approach” to the issue. Assistant Minister for Police, Fire and Emergency Services Jeff Collins, who has been lobbying for drug decriminalisation, will lead the committee, which will report back in August next year. […]

The UK’s first ever drug safety testing facility has opened following successful pilots at several British music festivals. The pop-up lab, which was set up this weekend in Bristol, is able to test the strength and quality of drugs provided to it by users. […]

This is a significant step forward in our approach to drug law reform—now we’ve shown that pill testing in Australia can be as successful as evidence from overseas indicated, we hope to see it implemented across the country without delay. […]

The recent pill testing trial at the Groovin’ the Moo music festival demonstrated why pill testing is an effective harm minimisation activity but also why we need to end drug prohibition in Australia and to effectively regulate the quality and supply of drugs here. […]

While it might not be for everyone, you can rest assured there is a group of people quietly relieved about Canberra’s brave trial – the two revelers whose drugs tested positive for harmful substances, and their families. […]

The Australian Medical Association Tasmanian president Stuart Day said a number of harm minimisation policies are needed when it comes to illicit drugs, including “needle exchanges, pill testing, and degrees of decriminalisation for some drugs”. […]

Harm Reduction Australia and Family Drug Support are calling on all Governments (Federal, State & Territory) to immediately reconsider their positions on pill testing and support further trials around the country. Pill Testing Media Release 1 May 2018 […]

The harms resulting from cannabis prohibition are far greater than the harms resulting from cannabis itself as former US president Jimmy Carter observed: “Penalties against the use of a drug should not be more damaging to an individual than the use of a drug itself; and where they are they should be changed. […]