YOUR SAY: Pill testing, making it safer or more dangerous?

By Letters to the Editor
Updated February 1 2018 - 9:12pm, first published 10:26am
YOUR SAY: Pill testing, making it safer or more dangerous?
YOUR SAY: Pill testing, making it safer or more dangerous?

Making it safer or more dangerous?

Reading The Courier this week I was interested to see a renewed push towards the trialling of pill testing at large events. I applaud the Member for Buninyong's attempt to address public safety concerns in a pragmatic and effective manner. The use of illicit drugs in our community is regrettable and harmful to the mental and physical wellbeing of those who consume them. What might be considered fun to some can quickly descend into a horrific nightmare where a tainted batch of pills can leave lives in the balance. It is an issue that has plagued society for far too long and requires considering new approaches in harm-minimisation in an effort to make a meaningful difference to the lives of people in vulnerable situations. Already, new approaches to drug abuse are being implemented with the trialling of safe injecting facilities and the commitment of further rehabilitation resources. It is not simply enough to use tough rhetoric to appease hardliners; this is a health issue that needs to focus primarily on reducing near fatal overdoses and other adverse reactions. The possibility of improving the health and safety of community members whilst concurrently reducing the stress on our emergency departments makes pill testing an option to actively consider. 

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