Major test for Victoria’s pill testing laws

Victorian punters took part in pill testing for the first time on Saturday as the state’s new laws were road-tested at the Beyond the Valley Festival.

The Victorian government earlier this year passed legislation which will see pill testing trialled at 10 festivals during an 18-month period, starting with Beyond the Valley.

On Saturday afternoon, festival goers began arriving for the four-day event at Barunah Plains, about 90 minutes southwest of Melbourne.

On-site testing will be able available from 1pm to 7pm and will be able to screen up to 200 drugs per day.

The Victorian government passed the Pill Testing Bill in the wake of a series of overdose deaths and hospital admissions.

Victorian paramedics said they responded to more drug overdoses at festivals in the first three months of 2024 than in the entirety of 2023.

And the government has defended the laws claiming they do not encourage people to do drugs but instead will allow them to see what is really in the substances.

“The evidence shows that pill testing doesn’t encourage people to use drugs,” Victoria’s Department of Health said.

“It allows people to see what’s really in their substances and make informed, safer decisions.

“It’s not about promoting drug use; it’s about making sure people who are already taking risks can do so as safely as possible.”

The testing will be able to test most substances, pills, capsules, and powders.

If a high-risk substance is detected and believed to be in circulation at the festival, the pill testing service will work with management to issue alerts via social media and signage.

As well as on-site medical teams, volunteers from harm reduction service DanceWize will also be in attendance

“We said we would deliver pill testing in Victoria and that’s exactly what we’ve done,” acting mental health minister Mary-Anne Thomas said.

“Pill testing is just one of many health initiatives we’re introducing to reduce drug harm in our state – helping Victorians make safer and better-informed decisions.”