Drug checking is now legal in Victoria!
Drug checking is now legal in Victoria, meaning people will able to get their drugs checked for harmful substances and doses from this summer.
On Tuesday night, new laws passed state parliament making drug checking (often called pill testing) legal in Victoria.
The new laws will enable 10 mobile testing sites to run at Victorian festivals from this summer. A fixed site will be set up mid-next year in Melbourne close to nightlife and public transport.
YSAS CEO Andrew Bruun said the laws will save lives.
“Drug checking means that in an unregulated drug market, people have access to potentially lifesaving health advice regarding what they are consuming,” Bruun said.
“We know from successful drug checking programs in Queensland and the ACT that they help people make more informed decisions and reduce the consumption of dangerous substances.”
The new legislation ensures that operating or using these services is not considered a legal offence.
The laws will officially come into effect once they receive Royal Assent.
