The pill testing debate was reignited following a spate of drug overdoses at Australian music festivals in 2018.

A recent study found public opinion is in favour of pill testing, festival promoters have championed it and even Australia’s peak representative body for doctors is on board. But police and politicians, including both the NSW and Victorian premiers, have blocked it.

So what is it?

Pill testing forms part of a "harm minimisation" approach to drug taking that aims to stop users from consuming drugs that are likely to have dangerous consequences. This involves testing the drug to make sure the chemicals it contains are what the user is expecting.

On 12 January 2019, police say a 19-year-old woman died after ingesting substances at FOMO festival at Parramatta Park in Sydney.

Following her death, relatives renewed calls for NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian to introduce pill testing at festivals.

Over the New Year period, two people died from fatal overdoses at music festivals within four days. These tragedies follow the deaths of two people at Sydney’s Defqon.1 festival in September and the death of a teenager at Knockout Games of Destiny festival in December.

Despite this, NSW and Victorian governments remain opposed to pill testing, saying allowing it will give people a “green light” to take drugs.

“I think the process, as it’s currently being promoted, is fraught with significant risks that will give festival-goers a false sense of security that drugs are safe to use," NSW Police Minister Troy Grant said in a statement provided to SBS News.

www.sbs.com.au/news/music-festival-overdoses-spark-calls-for-pill-testing-but-how-does-it-work

The Psyfari music festival cancelled its 2019 event, claiming to be a victim in the NSW government’s “war on festivals”.
The multi-day “doof”, scheduled for September, would have been the festival’s 10th anniversary. The camping festival had a BYO liquor policy and encouraged punters to “dance, play” and be themselves.

“We are unfortunate to be in the wrong place at the wrong time when festivals are the new scapegoat of a failed government and their failed war on drugs,” organisers wrote on their Facebook page.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian announced in October that her government would introduce a tough new law to target and punish dealers who caused deaths, making them able to be jailed for 25 years.

Ms Berejiklian also said the government would introduce tougher licensing provisions for festivals.

www.news.com.au/entertainment/music/music-festivals/psyfari-music-festival-cancels-2019-event-as-nsw-rages-war-on-festivals-over-drugs/news-story/a8613ae4a37aae2e5fdea755b01fc6d5

This has been in Australian news a lot lately, what are your thoughts on having drug testing at music festivals?

To the people complaining about pill testing, like it's some violation of their human rights - You're doing something illegal. Not only should pill testing exist, a drug possession charge should go with it.

We have laws on our roads, that are designed to ensure safe passage, and just as importantly, laws ensuring that the vehicles driven, are safe. That's life.

The right to digest an illegal substance to make the Chainsmoker's music tolerably, shouldn't get a free pass.

If people want to take pills then the entire responsibility is upon them.
If drug suppliers or users want to pay for pill testing then great, if not piss off.
If you take drugs and die, I think it is very sad... That a person could be that stupid and cause their family pain.

Annoys me the cross section of cultures when you get people that only ingest soy and organic products before heading to a rave and loading up on some drug that a meth head made in his garage while rats are crawling all over it.