Released 19/02/2019 - Joint media release
The ACT Government has given the green light for a pill testing trial to occur at the Groovin the Moo (GTM) music festival in April.
The trial, which will be run by Pill Testing Australia, is only the second time the service will be offered at a music festival in Australia, following the first successful trial that was held at last year’s GTM.
Governments have a responsibility to not only try and prevent drug use but also to support initiatives that reduce the harms associated with drug use.
Pill testing does not make taking illicit drugs safe and our message to the community will always be, don’t take drugs. However, pill testing provides a health intervention at the point when someone is making the decision to take a pill. By making this service available at music festivals there is the potential to save lives.
Meegan Fitzharris, Minister for Health and Wellbeing, said that a second trial of pill testing will further contribute to the evidence base for pill testing both locally and nationally.
“The data that came out of the first trial was incredibly informative for health and emergency services.
It provided information about the types of substances that are in the ACT plus it identified two potentially deadly substances in two of the pills submitted for testing”, Minister Fitzharris said.
“Given the increasing interest in pill testing, we consider this trial to be of enormous value to the debate and deliberations about harm minimisation.
To build on the information we have, the ACT Government is ensuring there will be an independent evaluation as part of the trial, which we will make available to other jurisdictions.
For more information on pill testing in the ACT visit: www.health.act.gov.au/pilltesting
For more information on Pill Testing Australia visit: www.pilltestingaustralia.com.au
- Statement ends -
Andrew Barr, MLA | Meegan Fitzharris, MLA | Media Releases
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