Stacey Lee: Pill testing won’t lead to more people taking drugs but might lead to some deciding they don’t want to

Pill testing is not, as the government insists, promoting illegal drug use. It’s a chance to inform and even help those who don’t trust the warnings, writes Stacey Lee.

When are politicians going to wake up and realise pill testing doesn’t encourage drug use?

Young people aren’t stupid. We know there is no “safe drug”.

We know if we were to acquire some sort of pill before a music festival, or any other event, the dangers associated with taking it are high.

I mean the internet has so much, probably too much, information readily available about illicit substances that you’re kidding yourself if you think Millennials haven’t already familiarised themselves with the basic data, at the very least.

We know the risks, we understand them, and for most of us that is enough to deter us from getting involved.

But just like all groups in society, older generations included, there’s a minority who overlook the potential dangers.

And sure, I’ll admit, for some people in that small group not much can be done to stop them from taking drugs.

But I think we can all agree that education is key.

Josh Tam, 22, died after taking “unknown substances” at the Lost Paradise music festival. Picture: Twitter @lostparadiseau

Informing people about what they are about to take, exactly what it is made of and how it may affect them may just be enough to deter some of my more level-headed peers.

This was evident at the Groovin’ the Moo festival in the ACT last year after the Territory Government allowed pill testing to occur.

Some 85 substances were analysed and five people binned their drugs, but almost 20 per cent said they were considering throwing theirs out.

I’m a millennial and I can proudly say I’ve never taken a pill at a music festival.

It’s never appealed to me.

I’ve seen countless friends take the unknown substances and it’s always ended in the same way – a loss of inhibitions, some crazy behaviour and a really bad “come down” which potentially lasts for days.

Granted, it’s been a while since I attended a music festival, I’m much more of a cheese-and-wine kinda gal these days, but it doesn’t mean I can’t see the benefits of pill testing.

It’s one of these debates that comes up every few months and sparks a huge, passionate reaction from both sides.

The sad part, though, is the conversation usually begins following some sort of tragedy or death. That’s why we’re talking about it again now. Two people have died in a week after taking unknown substances at music festivals.

“This is as bad a start to the music festival season that we’ve had in years,” said Dr David Caldicott from Pill Testing Australia.

Dr David Caldicott, an emergency doctor, senior lecturer at Australian National University and a pill testing advocate.

The senior lecturer at Australian National University believes an increasing mistrust in authority is contributing to it.

“The problem is that young people aren’t paying any attention to the messaging, because they don’t trust it,” Dr Caldicott said.

Dr Caldicott, who is also an emergency doctor, started pill testing at the Enchanted Forest rave parties in South Australia more than 10 years ago but has since been prevented from conducting the more advanced style of testing by the previous and current governments. He says if it was allowed here, and in other states, it may prevent future deaths.

“The idea is not to make music festivals drug free, it’s about making them death free,” he said.

Exactly! Pill testing won’t lead to more people taking drugs, but it might lead to some people deciding they don’t want to take the drug they have because they now know what’s in it.

Isn’t that a good thing?

It’s easy to set up, doesn’t require a change in legislation and – the best part – won’t cost taxpayers a cent.

“We’d do it for free,” Dr Caldicott says. “We would be delighted to bring pill testing back to South Australia, where it all started.

“It would be a very poetic way of going full circle.”

But despite the obvious benefits, the State Government still won’t allow it.

“The Marshall Liberal Government does not support pill testing as it promotes the use of illegal drugs,” is the official line from the Government.

How disappointing.

Stacey Lee is the Sky News reporter for Adelaide.