Tag: Drug Reform
NCA’s decision on pill testing betrays public trust
Pill testing at Groovin’ the Moo was deemed a success. CREDIT:ROHAN THOMSON The National Capital Authority has blocked a proposal for pill testing at this year’s Spilt Milk festival in Canberra. It was able to do this because the festival is held on grounds that the NCA’s manages. It made this decision despite the support of…
Drug Reform series – At last, a government sanctioned pill testing program
We are finally seeing in Australia the first signs of a recognition by government of the important public health benefits of sanctioned pill testing programs. Law enforcement alone will never overcome the problems that can arise from drug use. Much like needle and syringe programs, pill testing is a real-world response which is evidence based…
The Rejection Of Drug Testing Is A Hard Pill To Swallow
It is a case of the demand for perfection stifling any progress. In their efforts to defend the ‘just say no’ approach to pill testing, government officials often highlight what they believe is a major problem. Basically, that there is the potential for a misunderstanding of the results by individuals because pill…
What is ‘drug checking’ and why do we need it in Australia?
This weekend saw the tragic death of a young woman after she took an unidentified tablet at the Stereosonic music festival. Drug-related deaths of this type are not uncommon in Australia, and this raises the question of whether our approach to harm minimisation needs reform. Ten years ago the Australian Medical Association passed a resolution backing research…