Pill-testing success in ACT proves it should go national, organisers say

festival pill death testing australia CC flickr Piasentin

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Pill-testing success in ACT proves it should go national, organisers say

20 June 2018

By Paul Karp

The pill-testing trial at a music festival in the Australian Capital Territory was an “overwhelming success” and the federal government should help roll out a scheme nationwide, the organisers have said.

In a report on the trial at the Groovin’ the Moo festival in April, released on Wednesday, the Sta-safe consortium said the government should support a “mixed-model” with pill-testing offered permanently at drug, alcohol and syringe services – not just at festivals and special events.

Although at least one federal minister has already scotched suggestions of a national scheme, the ACT’s justice and mental health minister, Shane Rattenbury, agreed the trial was a “success on the day” and offered support to other events and jurisdictions to follow suit.

In the trial on 29 April, 129 people attended pill-testing near the health tent and 83 samples of drugs were tested.

Read the report below


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