Calls for permanent pill testing after festival success

Geelong: Australia just wrapped up its biggest pill-testing trial at the Beyond The Valley music festival, and it was a hit! The folks running the program are saying it should stick around for good.

This was the first time Victoria offered pill testing, and it seems to have done its job well. The health minister and the program’s head are both on board with making it permanent.

Cameron Francis, the CEO of The Loop Australia, mentioned that people were eager to get their substances checked, lining up even before the service opened. They chatted with over 700 festival-goers and tested more than 600 samples.

He confidently stated, “It definitely has been a success.” It turns out that festival-goers are really keen on getting information and advice about what they’re taking.

They mostly tested MDMA, ketamine, and cocaine, but thankfully, no super dangerous substances were found that would require a public warning. However, there were some cases where one drug was sold as another.

Interestingly, almost 40% of people said they’d consider using a lower dose after talking with health professionals. That’s a pretty big deal!

Some attendees, especially those on antidepressants, were seeking advice about MDMA, which can be a risky mix. One person even decided not to use the drug after their chat.

There was a report of a guy in his twenties who had to be treated for a drug overdose at Geelong Hospital, but we don’t know if he used the testing service.

Mr. Francis noted that this trial had better results than others, especially since the festival attracted a younger crowd. He mentioned that younger people are often more open to advice since they might be less experienced with drugs.

Preliminary data showed that for over 70% of attendees, it was their first time having a no-judgment conversation with a health professional about drug use.

With the trial behind them, Mr. Francis believes the service is most effective when it’s accessible to everyone. This could even help push out more dangerous substances from the market.

Health Minister Mary-Anne Thomas highlighted that these discussions often lead to deeper conversations about health and wellbeing, which is key for harm reduction.

On the flip side, opposition mental health spokeswoman Emma Kealy criticized the rollout, calling it “botched” after the overdose incident on the first day.

Looking ahead, the trial will continue at 10 more Victorian events during the 2024/25 music festival season. Meanwhile, pill testing is already legal in Queensland and the ACT, and New South Wales plans to kick off its own trial in 2025.