Harm reduction proponents, rejoice: a proposed pilot run of pill-testing at music festivals may be closer to fruition, as the pair behind the idea have revealed they’ve been in “high-level” talks with several state police departments.
But, still, there’s been no progress in New South Wales – where they originally planned to roll out the program at Splendour In The Grass and the now-defunct Stereosonic.
The Canberra Times report physician David Caldicott explained last week how far the discussions had gone, saying “There are very senior police supporting us currently. There are very senior politicians supporting us currently.
We are now working out how we can have a system in place for the forthcoming festival season.”
On those incidents, Caldicott said “the fact that people got sick there, the fact they were so young, obviously emphasises the ongoing need for this.
Even the experts have underestimated the nature of the market. It is absolutely going to be far worse next season.”
If these trials do kick off elsewhere – and if their results are as positive as many, many experts believe ’em to be – then maybe, just maybe, Australia could embrace a new way of dealing with a very serious problem.
Source: Canberra Times.
Photo: Tao Jones / Groovin The Moo / Facebook.
