Pill testing at festivals supported by most Australians, study shows

It’s the radical proposal that’s yet to win favour in Victoria. But new research shows two-thirds of Aussies support pill testing at festivals.

Pill testing has the support of almost two-thirds of Aussies, new research shows, amid pressure to trial the radical idea in Victoria.

It follows a string of deadly overdoses at music festivals in recent years while dozens of revellers have landed in hospital.

New research from the Australian National University shows 63 per cent of adults surveyed nationwide supported pill testing at festivals.

The figure was similar in Victoria alone.

Prof Toni Makkai, who co-authored the research, said the overwhelming support for pill testing in the community was at odds with hesitation from politicians to make it legal.

The ACT is the only jurisdiction which has pill testing.

“There is only so much bandwidth you can take as a political party to push through policy reform,’’ Prof Makkai said.

“Pill testing is not top of the agenda so it’s not supported.”

More than 2100 adults nationwide were last year asked about their stance on pill testing as part of the research.

Young people and those living in cities were most supportive.

A fifth of respondents opposed testing drugs.

Pill testing at festivals has widespread public support, according to a new study.

Prof Makkai said pill testing had only been put on the political radar in the last five years and she expected support to grow even further, especially given the number of young deaths at the hands of overdose during large-scale events.

Drug possession was also a massive problem, accounting for 80 per cent of all drug-related arrests.

“Over time people get more comfortable with the idea,’’ she said.

“Pill testing might be part of a wider social reform — part of a wider drug reform approach.”

The Greens last year called for Victoria to introduce a mobile pill testing unit to operate at major festivals in a two-year pilot program.

But a state government spokesman told the Herald Sun: “There are no plans to allow for pill-testing at public events in Victoria.”

“We are dedicated to reducing the harm associated with alcohol and other drug use across Victoria with a record investment of $273.1 million to boost services across the state,’’ she said.

This include peer educators attending dance parties, festivals and nightclubs to discuss safer drug use with revellers.

The Australian Research Council and Australian National University funding the research on pill testing, published in the Drug and Alcohol Review.

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Originally published as Pill testing at festivals supported by most Australians, study shows