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YSAS celebrates pill testing announcement, a leap forward in Victoria’s drug policy

Jacinta Allen announces pill testing trial will launch this summer

Pill testing will be permanent in Victoria following an 18-month trial of both mobile and fixed-site services to determine how best to offer the free drug checks to users. The $4 million trial will see mobile-sites at 10 music festivals this summer and a fixed-site clinic set to open by mid-2025.

A long-awaited step in the right direction.

This decision comes after years of advocacy and pressure from drug and alcohol organisations like YSAS, politicians, health organisations, unions, legal services, and the general public, who have passionately campaigned for pill testing in Victoria.

Last year, we joined 78 organisations in signing an open letter urging the government to prioritise drug checking as a matter of urgency following a series of overdoses over the summer and recommendations from Victoria’s Coroners Court . Their persistence and dedication have been instrumental in shaping this progressive policy shift.

Read the open letter here.

We publicly supported the Pill Testing Pilot for Drug Harm Reduction Bill that was introduced at the end of last year by the Victorian Greens, the Animal Justice Party, and Legalise Cannabis Victoria. to introduce pill testing in November last year.

And back in March, YSAS Youth Peer Advocate Daniel Robinson Croft joined 77 community and health organisations on the steps of Victorian Parliament urgently calling for pill testing.

What is pill testing?

Pill testing, also known as drug checking, allows individuals to have their illicit substances analysed to verify what’s actually in it. Without drug checking services, and within an illegal and unregulated market there is no way to know for certain what is in a pill or powder.

By testing substances, people who use drugs are able to identify potentially harmful substances and gain information on the strength and purity of their drugs. Access to this knowledge, means people can make more informed decisions about consumption, potentially avoiding life-threatening consequences like overdose or poisoning. It also means people can connect with health workers and learn harm reduction strategies at the point of use.

The trial will involve both mobile and fixed-site services.

The initial phase of the trial will see pill testing services available at 10 music festivals across Victoria. Additionally, plans include the establishment of a fixed-site clinic in Melbourne by mid-2025. Although the exact location has yet to be determined, the government aims to position the clinic strategically near nightlife areas and transportation hubs to maximise accessibility.

Premier Jacinta Allan has confirmed that pill testing will become a permanent fixture in Victoria following the trial period. This commitment means Victoria will join the ACT and Queensland, where pill testing is already being implemented.

Mobile sites will allow people to check their drugs at festivals and a fixed-site clinic, like CanTest in Canberra, will allow for more in-depth analysis and drug alerts before anyone gets hurt.

A post shared by Youth Support + Advocacy Service (@ysasvic)

Pill testing does, and will save lives.

What we know is that young people are going to try drugs. In fact, in 2023 1 in 3 young people tried an illicit drug.

Effective harm reduction acknowledges this this, and instead takes the approach of helping drug users to know the risks in the moment, helping them to make informed decisions.

Pill testing shifts the focus away from abstinence messaging, and reinstates the Government’s responsibility to regulate drugs in a way that ensures safer supply, educates about potential harms and extends healthcare to everyone who needs it. Because, growing up and taking risks shouldn’t come with a death sentence.

Pill testing in Victoria represents a significant milestone in Victoria’s approach to drug policy and a growing recognition of the importance of harm reduction strategies and evidence-based practices in addressing drug use. YSAS celebrates this win with the broader community, politicians and services who have tirelessly advocated for years.

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