There is little chance pill testing will be trialed at music festivals in Ballarat and the surrounding region this upcoming summer season, as the Victorian government maintains strong opposition to calls for the introduction of the service.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Pill Testing Australia called on state governments to support pill testing Australia wide after a report released on Monday revealed the outcomes of the second Australian pill testing pilot conducted at Groovin The Moo festival in Canberra in April.
The report shows seven dangerous substances containing N-ethyl pentylone were identified at the trial. Patrons were alerted to the dangers of the substance.
N-ethyl pentylone has been linked to multiple overdoses overseas at music festivals.
All seven participants with the substance discarded the pills when they found out what was in them, according to the report.
Right now the evidence shows pill testing is the best option.
- Tim Harvey, Rainbow Serpent
MDMA was the predominant substance identified during testing, followed by cocaine, ketamine and methamphetamine.
Figures show 170 substances were tested for 234 participants, twice the number of tests conducted at the first pill testing pilot a year earlier.
The majority of those who participated also took part in an intervention with harm-reduction workers after their substances were tested. More than 200 interventions took place following the testing; 160 of them disclosed they had used drugs previously.
The report recommends all other state and territory governments consider accepting Pill Testing Australia's offer of one free pill testing pilot to assess the suitability of pill testing services at all festivals in their jurisdictions.
But the Victorian government has remained steadfast in its position against pill testing, saying there are no plans to allow pill testing at events in Victoria.
Victoria Police maintains pill testing can give people a false and potentially fatal sense of security about illicit drugs.
Organisers of music festival Rainbow Serpent have they were open to hosting pill testing at Lexton for the past two years.
"As a festival that is dedicated to the well-being of our patrons, we support any evidence based strategy that can reduce harm. Right now the evidence shows pill testing is the best option. It is a no-brainer," Rainbow Serpent communications director Tim Harvey said.
Spilt Milk music festival will be held for the first time in Ballarat on November 30 at Victoria Park, attracting up to 25,000 festival-goers.
In a statement to The Courier in June, Spilt Milk organisers said the festival supported 'evidence-based harm reduction activations'.
Pill testing is well-established in Europe and the United Kingdom, but has only so far operated as a trial in Australia in the ACT.
The service allows festival-goers to provide a sample of a substance they may be considering taking to be analysed, identified and discussed with a healthcare professional.
The Victorian Greens are pushing for a 24-month trial to combat overdose deaths at music festivals to get underway by 2020.
As part of the trial, a fixed laboratory would also be created for year-round testing.
The bill will be formally introduced to Parliament before this year's summer festival season.
An independent evaluation of the Groovin the Moo pill testing trial conducted by the Australian National University will also be released later this year.