First NSW music festival to take part in pill testing trial revealed
The Yours and Owls festival in Wollongong this March will be the first New South Wales music festival to feature pill-testing - but attendees have again been warned the health initiative is not a drug amnesty.
It's the first step in a 12-month trial by the Minns government aimed at reducing the harm caused by illicit drugs.
The free and anonymous service allows festival goers to bring a small sample of substances they intend to consume to be analysed by qualified health staff to test for purity, potency and adulterants.
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The NSW government has announced its first music festival pill testing trial location. Nine
The staff will include peer workers, health workers and analysts who will clearly communicate the limitations of drug checking to festival goers.
"People will never be advised that a drug is safe to use. They'll be advised that all drug use carries risks, and that the only way to avoid this risk is to not consume drugs," the government said in a release.
Staff can also offer festival-goers referrals to health and welfare services.
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"Let me be clear, no level of illicit drug use is safe and pill testing services do not provide a guarantee of safety. There will always be risks involved when consuming these substances," Health Minister Ryan Park said.
"Illicit drug use remains illegal in NSW. These services will not be made available to suppliers and police will continue to target them."
Yours and Owls co-founder Ben Tillman said he "enthusiastically" welcomed the announcement.
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Users will not be told drugs are safe to take. 9News
"While Yours and Owls maintains a zero-tolerance policy to illegal drugs, we are realists and see the abstinence-only approach as unhelpful," he said.
"Pill testing is not a panacea. However, it is a proven harm minimisation strategy that has been successfully implemented in many countries overseas for the past twenty or so years."
He urged anybody in trouble to seek medical help immediately.
"There will be no judgment, you won't get into trouble, patrons need to remember their safety and that of their mates is the most important thing."
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Meanwhile, there are calls for the state to pursue further options for harm minimisation, including a permanent testing facility.
Uniting NSW ACT general manager of advocacy and external relations Emma Maiden said she commended the announcement about the Yours and Owls festival.
"Giving people good information about the drugs they are planning to take saves lives and helps people make more informed choices," she said.
"If one life is saved, this trial will be worth it."
She called on the government to implement an ongoing program for all festivals in NSW, and to construct a permanent facility for drug users to make danger checks.
"Drug testing is simple, proven and it saves lives," she said.
The 12-month trial will be independently evaluated after it ends.
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