Page 38 - WHACK35
P. 38
(PMMA), both harmful substances I’m flabbergasted and my overseas
In Victoria, Premier Daniel strongly associated with toxicity colleagues are scratching their
Andrews also ruled out the and death. heads.”
possibility of a trial, arguing that: “IS CIVIL
“you want to talk about normalising The presence of toxic impurities
[drugs] - I think that [pill-testing] within ecstasy pills is a direct DISOBEDIENCE THE
goes a long way towards it.” SOLUTION?”
result of government policies that
The dismissiveness of State focus on ‘law and order’ measures Dr Wodak, one of the most
governments to pill testing is to control supply rather than on prominent advocates for pill
unforgiveable given the clear safe use. The Netherlands, which testing, has suggested that public
evidence from abroad that such has the highest purity of ecstasy
testing is an effective measure analysed, also has a significant health experts and harm reduction
against drug-related harm. policy imperative toward harm advocates should begin their own
reduction: including publicly pill-testing trials despite State
DIRTY DRUGS AND accessible drug testing centres. government opposition. In an
OUTDATED POLICY announcement earlier this year
he adamantly stated: “the idea is
Evidence from Europe indicates to save lives [and] I am prepared
Although there are limited that pill testing has a positive effect to break the law to save young
studies, ecstasy-related harm on black markets, taking ‘dirty people’s lives.”
appears to be on the rise. Between drugs’ off the market and creating a
2012 and 2014 in Victoria there trend towards increased pill purity.
was an over 40% increase in This is admirable, but there are
the number of ecstasy related Access to pill testing also has reasons to be wary of rolling out
ambulance attendances. a clear impact on positive, well- harm reduction policies without
Of these, 78% resulted in hospital government approval.
transportation suggesting harmful informed drug choices. This
substances were included in the is particularly the case as pill NSW Police have already
pills taken.1 testing facilities provide a unique threatened that Dr Wodak and
environment for experts to provide
The vast majority of ecstasy information on safe drug use.4 his supporters may be subject to
pills are taken in clubs and music drug possession, trafficking and
festivals in Australia. Dr Alex Private pill testing kits such even manslaughter charges should
Wodak, President of the Australian as EZ Test have been available something go wrong during an
Drug Law Reform Foundation in Australia for some years now, unsanctioned pill testing trial.
notes “there have been about a however they are narrow in what
hundred deaths, estimated by the substances they can detect and Victorian Police have also
National Drug and Alcohol Centre, indicated that drug possession and
at music events over the last decade users are not readily taking them potential trafficking charges could
and the number young people up. Unlike these private kits, a be laid against pill testers if a trial
hospitalised from ecstasy-related sophisticated drug testing trial occurs at Victorian festivals.
drugs is increasing rapidly”. would involve laboratory-grade Although there is some mixed
equipment staffed by forensic
Australians may be particularly analysts who can provide the most legal opinion as to whether pill
vulnerable to ecstasy related harm accurate information for users testers have the sufficient “custody
as the pills on our market are possible within a short 30-40 and control” of a substance to be
infamously impure. An analysis minute window. found guilty of these charges, the
of PillReports.net data by the risk of criminal sanction is very
American drug information As Dr David Caldicott, real, and a major deterrent to pill
service ‘Project Know’ found that emergency physician and drug testing trials.
Australian ecstasy pills have one expert, has noted “[pill testing] is
of the lowest levels of MDMA so mainstream in Europe now, the There are also other reasons
in the world and the highest European Union has had their peak why a successful pill testing rollout
levels of unknown additives. drug body produce best practice would require some government
Australian pills were also one guidelines to do pill testing. Dozens approval.
of the highest in detected levels of countries in Europe do this
of paramethoxyamphetamine already. As with marriage equality Much like the case with drug
(PMA) and or climate change, we are leading consumption rooms, pill testing
paramethoxymethamphetamine the way in being backwards on this. relies on the confidence and trust
of users that they will not be
3 8 W H A C K P. I E D I T I O N : S P R I N G 2 0 16
WHACK35_LYOT.indd 38 11-Oct-16 4:25:25 PM
