The NSW Government has committed to keep drug checking services running at up to 15 music festivals a year.
It follows a 12-month trial and an independent evaluation, which found pill testing reduced drug-related hospital and ICU admissions at festivals compared with previous years.
NSW Health Minister Ryan Park said the Government “does not endorse drug use” but is “listening to those with lived experience.”
Here's what you need to know.
Background
In 2019, a coronial inquest examined the deaths of six young people who died after taking MDMA at NSW music festivals, including 19-year-old Alex Ross-King.
Following the hearings, Deputy State Coroner Harriet Grahame recommended a pill testing trial start that summer, and a permanent drug checking facility be set up.
Grahame’s report also noted concerns from opponents that the practice “gives the green light to drugs,” and provides a false sense of security that condones drug use.
Trial
In 2024, the NSW Government announced a Drug Summit, the first of its kind in the state since 1999.
The conference was held across regional and metropolitan areas.
Over four days, the summit heard from experts, police, people with lived experience, advocacy organisations, and families.
One of the key recommendations to emerge from the summit was the establishment of a pill testing trial.
The Government announced the trial later that year.
Under the year-long trial, attendees at certain music festivals had access to anonymous drug checking services to find out the strength and contents of drugs they intended to take.
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Staff were then able to give attendees harm minimisation advice.
Amnesty bins were available for anyone who decided to safely dispose of their drugs after hearing the testing results and health advice.
The service was free of charge, and open to people testing drugs they intended to use themselves, not distribute to others.
Results
More than 1,800 people used the service during the trial, and around 1,500 drug samples were tested.
Urgent drug-related hospital presentations and ICU admissions fell compared with previous years at the same festivals.
Most people who used the trial services had never engaged with a health or harm reduction service before.
Health and drug-reform group Unharm wrote to the Premier this week calling for testing to be made permanent and expanded beyond festivals, into the general community.
Permanent services
On Wednesday morning, NSW Health Minister Ryan Park announced that the drug checking services would become permanent.
NSW Health will work with the festival industry to choose up to 15 festivals a year for the service.
Festivals will be picked based on size, type, location and the likelihood of drug harm.
Park said: “Drug checking at music festivals can reduce harms associated with drug use, and it ultimately saves lives”.
“Young people take risks, that is the reality of life, but they do not deserve to die because of one decision. This will go a long way towards giving young people the information they need to make safer choices and, ultimately, ensuring they come home safely to the people who love them," Alex's mother Jennie Ross-King said.
