​​​​​​​Pill testing trial to commence at NSW music festivals

The NSW Government has announced it will permit a 12-month trial of pill-testing at music festivals beginning in early 2025 - a practice some other states have already adopted and expanded - to reduce risks and harms associated with illicit drug use

NSW Premier Chris Minns has stressed it's only a trial – albeit one with a clear purpose - "to reduce harm and save lives."

Premier Minns added "no parent wants to be given the news that something has happened to their child at a music festival, and that they are now in an emergency department or worse.

"I strongly encourage parents to talk to their kids to remind them there is no safe consumption level of drug use.

"I also want to be clear that taking illicit drugs remains illegal. This trial does not change police powers, and if you commit a crime, you may be charged and prosecuted."

Illicit drugs remain illegal in NSW. The NSW Government reiterates that there will always be risks involved when consuming these substances and this announcement is not an endorsement of illicit drug use.

However, the trial will help people make safer choices, will ensure they can speak to a health professional and it could save lives.

The trial, which is free and anonymous, will allow festival goers to bring a small sample of substances they intend to consume to qualified health staff to test for purity, potency and adulterants.

The amnesty provided as part of this trial, is strictly limited to people seeking to check drugs for their own personal use.

The strong efforts of police in targeting drug suppliers will in no way be changed by this trial and these services will not be made available to people seeking to supply drugs to others.

The trial will go for 12 months and it will cost just over $1 million to roll out the service within festival grounds.

The announcement came after the state government hosted the NSW Drug Summit in Sydney which concluded in early December.

Politicians, experts, police and health professionals gathered to discuss drug decriminalisation, pill testing and the impact of illicit substances on First Nations people.

The Drug Summit co-chairs provided interim advice recommending a trial of music festival-based pill testing, given the fast-approaching summer festival season.

Health Minister Ryan Park advised that the summit gave the government an opportunity to listen to experts before introducing the trial.

National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre deputy director Amy Peacock told the summit there had been an increase in mixed drugs advising "we are seeing increased use of drugs, often unknowingly, mixed with or mis-sold with another drug, including counterfeit pharmaceutical medicines.

"The contents of illicit drugs are more unpredictable than ever before, and without information about the contents of illicit drugs, it leaves people who use these drugs ill-equipped to make decisions around their use.”

Minister Park said the pill testing trial, which could be up and running by early February, will not eliminate the risk of consuming drugs adding "we don't think this is a silver bullet and we reiterate we don't think this is going to solve every harm that drugs can cause.

"What happens to a drug inside a person's physiology and bodies is very different depending on the individual so this is by no means a silver bullet.”

Minister for Police Yasmin Catley said the trial focuses on harm minimisation for people considering personal use noting "drug supply remains a serious offence and poses a significant risk to the community.

“People looking to deal drugs at festivals can expect to be targeted by police and brought before the courts.”

The Victorian Government announced in November that it will introduce the first of 10 pill testing trials at music festivals at the Beyond the Valley over the New Year's Eve holiday period.

With nine more festivals to be announced as part of a trial, pill testing machines will be available at the four-day event held at Barunah Plains near Hesse, west of Geelong.

Beyond The Valley is expected to attract around 35,000 people, which would make it the biggest event in Australia to ever have pill testing sites.

Queensland and the ACT also already have fixed-site drug testing services.

Canberra introduced six months of pill testing in 2022 to reduce the harm from illicit drugs in an Australian-first trial.

Image top. Live Music. Credit:Pexels; Image below: Pill testing. Credit: CANtest