Pill testing at festivals to be trialled in New South Wales

New South Wales has agreed to pilot a pill-testing service at music festivals in the Australian state, The Guardian reports. 

Following approval by the local government, the trial system will roll out at events over 12 months during 2025. Festival-goers will now be able to have a sample of their ecstasy pills tested for strength, purity and potency by a professional.

The system is completely anonymous and free to use, and has begun in response to some experts in Australia calling for its introduction and a complete decriminalisation of drugs in the country in order to end what is believed to be harmful drug policing practices.

“No parent wants to be given the news that something has happened to their child at a music festival, and that they are now in an emergency department or worse,” state premier Chris Minns said in response to the introducing of the testing initiative. “The trial has a clear purpose – to reduce harm and save lives.”

New South Wales follows on from other parts of Australia also introducing pill-testing services, with Canberra establishing a permanent one in 2022 and Queensland following that up with two initiatives in March of this year.

Last year, a man died after a suspected drug overdose at Australia’s Pitch Music & Arts Festival, which takes place in Victoria, prompting calls for that state’s government to implement similar testing measures. These will be trialled this week at the popular Beyond The Valley festival.

In the UK, it was recently announced that on-site drug-testing by drug harm reduction charity The Loop would be introduced all-year-round at both Drumsheds and The Warehouse Project.