Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan proposes pill testing plan to end 'horror' of teenage overdoses

“Particularly after the recent rise in the summer of this year, the rise in the number of overdoses, particularly with certain types of drugs circulating around festivals.

“That's why, as a parent and Prime Minister, I'm always focused on finding ways to help young people be safe and protect them, and that's why we receive advice from the Ministry of Health. »

Privately, some Labor ministers have expressed concerns about pill testing, fearing it would open up government liability in situations where revelers had their pills tested but still suffered ill effects.

Other ministers, mainly from the right of the party, are also expected to raise concerns about whether the public will be open to a conversation about pill testing, given other pressing concerns such as questions of housing and the cost of life, which they believe should be the government's priority. primary objective.

The ACT tested a mobile testing site at a music festival in 2018 and has since opened fixed pill testing sites. Queensland opened its first permanent pill testing center in Brisbane in April.

Dr David Caldicott, emergency consultant and clinical lead at Pill Testing Australia, said festival-goers often changed their behavior once their medications were tested.

“If a young person is told by a doctor – who they know is knowledgeable about drugs – that they could suffer serious harm from using the drug, people often choose the option of having a good time but giving up the drugs they have. I was warned not to take it,” he said.

“We may not be able to convince everyone to give up their entire collection of objects. [drugs]. But what we can do is persuade people to adopt behavior that makes them much less likely to need to come into contact with health services. »

Caldicott said the Victorian drug control proposal was timely because nitazenes – a new group of dangerous synthetic opioids more potent than fentanyl – had been found in pills tested in the ACT this year. “There’s always another drug coming in, that’s part of the problem,” he said.

“The more centers that monitor illicit drugs in this way, the sooner we will be alerted to something particularly nasty as it happens, and the sooner we can get the message out to ensure young people don't will not suffer any harm. »

Seven Victorian coronary inquests have already called on the government to introduce pill testing.

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On Sunday, the Coalition reiterated its opposition to pill testing. “We know there have been trials around the world… but I don't support pill testing here in Victoria,” opposition police spokesman Brad Battin said.

A Victoria Police spokeswoman said Age that “any decision regarding the authorization of pill testing rests with the government.” The Police Association did not respond to a request for comment Sunday.

Victorian Greens drug harm reduction spokesperson Aiv Puglielli said the use of pill testing was long overdue and the longer it was delayed, the more “young lives were at risk”.

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He said the Prime Minister must “convince her cabinet to urgently carry out pill testing if she is serious about protecting young lives”.

Earlier this year, Samantha Ratnam, Greens Legislative Council member for the Metropolitan North, asked the Parliamentary Budget Office to calculate the cost of a two-year pill trial, including a fixed testing facility and mobile tests that would travel between festivals. The office estimated the lawsuit would cost about $3.7 million.

The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners and the Victorian Ambulance Union are among more than 70 groups that have campaigned over the past year for Victoria to start testing the pills, according to the AAP.

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Royal Australian College of GPs president Dr Nicole Higgins said on social media on Sunday that the move towards pill testing in Victoria was “promising”.

“I once again urge the Victorian Government to follow the lead of the ACT and Queensland and introduce drug testing. This saves lives,” she said in a post on X, formerly Twitter.

If this story has raised concerns about your own or others' drug and alcohol use, please contact the National Alcohol and Other Drugs Helpline on 1800 250 015.

With Rachael Dexter

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