Pill testing trial to begin at Sydney music festivals, vows drug expert A Wodak

[Chip (OP)]

source: http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/pill-testing-trial-to-begin-at-sydney-music-festivals-vows-drug-expert-alex-wodak-20160227-gn59zu.html

Pill testing trial to begin at Sydney music festivals, vows drug expert Alex Wodak

ed. link to the site to watch the video > Pill testing: the case for and against

Following ABC's Four Corners expose on the drug culture at festivals, proponents of pill testing prepare to launch Australia's first in-venue pill testing program - but opponents are firm in their stance.

The Australian drug expert who pioneered the nation's first legal injecting centre has put himself on a collision course with the Baird government and NSW Police by vowing to break the law and roll out pill testing at Sydney's forthcoming music festivals.

President of the Australian Drug Law Reform Foundation, Alex Wodak, has joined forces with emergency medical specialist David Caldicott in announcing a privately funded drug testing "trial" will commence with or without the blessing of a government that has repeatedly blocked the proposal in favour of a hard line, law enforcement strategy.


Controversial proposal: Dr Alex Wodak. Photo: Stefan Postles

Despite its strict opposition to pill testing at festivals, Fairfax Media can also reveal that the NSW government has sought a secret briefing on how such a concept might occur, receiving a detailed,18-page research dossier.

"We are going to do this," said Dr Wodak. "Doctors, analysts who know how to operate the [testing] machines and peer interviewers who can translate the scientific results and explain to people why the drug they bought is talcum powder or highly toxic.

The idea is to save lives. I am prepared to break the law to save young people's lives."

Dr Caldicott said: "It's very straight forward. We want to run a trial at a place where everyone is using drugs anyway. "It's time for our politicians and elected representatives to catch up with what the majority of parents want for their children, which is for them to return home safe."


Who is going to take responsibility when somebody uses pill testing equipment and still has an adverse reaction?



Pill testing: the case for and against

Following ABC's Four Corners expose on the drug culture at festivals, proponents of pill testing prepare to launch Australia's first in-venue pill testing program - but opponents are firm in their stance.

Baird dismisses pill testing at festivals
Mother who lost son to drugs calls for pill testing
The Australian drug expert who pioneered the nation's first legal injecting centre has put himself on a collision course with the Baird government and NSW Police by vowing to break the law and roll out pill testing at Sydney's forthcoming music festivals.

President of the Australian Drug Law Reform Foundation, Alex Wodak, has joined forces with emergency medical specialist David Caldicott in announcing a privately funded drug testing "trial" will commence with or without the blessing of a government that has repeatedly blocked the proposal in favour of a hard line, law enforcement strategy.

Controversial proposal: Dr Alex Wodak. Photo: Stefan Postles
Despite its strict opposition to pill testing at festivals, Fairfax Media can also reveal that the NSW government has sought a secret briefing on how such a concept might occur, receiving a detailed,18-page research dossier.

"We are going to do this," said Dr Wodak. "Doctors, analysts who know how to operate the [testing] machines and peer interviewers who can translate the scientific results and explain to people why the drug they bought is talcum powder or highly toxic. The idea is to save lives. I am prepared to break the law to save young people's lives."

Dr Caldicott said: "It's very straight forward. We want to run a trial at a place where everyone is using drugs anyway. "It's time for our politicians and elected representatives to catch up with what the majority of parents want for their children, which is for them to return home safe."

Who is going to take responsibility when somebody uses pill testing equipment and still has an adverse reaction?

The founder of drug law reform agency Unharm, Will Tregoning, confirmed his discussion paper was forwarded "by request" to the NSW Premier's Department, on February 17.

"It looks at why we should do drug testing, how services operate internationally, the evidence of the effects of those services and it explains the legal context of the operation of a service in NSW. It essentially outlines that without any legislative change we could introduce a pilot service right now."

NSW Premier Mike Baird has refused to be drawn on whether or not he supports the notion of pill testing but the revelation that his own department reached out for policy advice is a clear indication the government is grappling with the dilemma of the life or death issue.


Until now, he has deflected the issue to his Police Minister, Troy Grant, who remains adamant that the government's strict policing policy, featuring drug sniffer dogs, will not sway under his watch.

In an opinion piece he wrote for Fairfax Media on Friday, he said: "The recent deaths of seven young people, mostly at music festivals, in NSW and interstate are a tragedy. I have no firm evidence before me that pill testing will save a life. "This government will not fund a scheme."

Unless there is a drastic about-turn in policing policy, a showdown now appears inevitable with a NSW police spokesman stating on Saturday: "We will continue to enforce the law at music festivals."

Dr Wodak is no stranger to controversy. In November 1986, he and a team of colleagues introduced the first needle syringe program. In 1999, he initiated Australia's first medically supervised injecting centre amid a heroin epidemic that had claimed more than a thousand lives that year. The then NSW premier Bob Carr, who sanctioned the project after originally opposing it, has since described it as being among his proudest career achievements.

Mr Wodak said he was now about to step outside of the square again. "I think Troy Grant's comments have made it clear that the government has shut the door on the possibility that pill testing could even be trialled," he said.

"Deaths are recurring at an increasing rate. Although it is clear that the current strategy, largely reliant on sniffer dogs, does not work in terms of reducing drug use or harm ... there is zero willingness by the police minister to even contemplate options. How can this be?"

Dr Wodak confirmed the pill testing trial would be launched without costing taxpayers a cent. While acknowledging the program needed the permission and support of dance party organisers, he said there were already "a number" of events being eyed.

"We would have done the Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras next weekend if there had been more time to set it up," he said, adding: "Stereosonic would be a suitable one. Splendour in the Grass would be another. We want to do a big one. We want to do several big ones."

When asked what he thought the reaction of Mr Baird would be, he said: "I've got a lot of faith in Mike Baird. He's a real human being. He has showed he has compassion."

On Saturday, Mr Baird's office again forwarded inquiries to Mr Grant who reaffirmed that the government "does not support pill testing" because the drugs are "illegal and inherently dangerous".

He added: "We are working on a strategy to reduce harm at music festivals through the promotion of drug-free events with the appropriate police resources to enforce the law."

Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/pill-testing-trial-to-begin-at-sydney-music-festivals-vows-drug-expert-alex-wodak-20160227-gn59zu.html#ixzz41Xb4QWMm
Follow us: @smh on Twitter | sydneymorningherald on Facebook

[Griffin]

My mmt counselor is in a group that does this, their are cops in the group as well who support it and keep them from getting arrested basically. They goto raves and test the drugs, and provide water and medical services for anyone. They also try to get more support and more groups to do it as well which I think is really cool. It is still frowned upon and illegal here too but tolerated because it saves lives.

That one caption under the picture of pills is so dumb "who will take responsibility when somebody uses pill testing equipment and still has an adverse reaction?". I highly doubt that after testing any pill they are going to deem it safe for consumption for anyone you asshat! It is to tell the person what they are taking not a medical seminar on the effects of each drug. The person who took the drug will take responsibility because they knew exactly what they were taking and decided to knowing the potential consequences.

I can't believe the mom of someone who died is against it like seriously what kind of logic is "my kid died so everyone else's kid should die and we shouldn't put in place anything that could potentially save them." Hearing shit like that makes me fear the worse sometimes, pretty much every time I read a news article on mmt, or any harm reduction policies I feel like we are doomed and depressed all day. I try to stay away but I am drawn to it, I want to read the idiotic opinions of people so I know where I stand, luckily logic, and common sense are spreading!

[Guts]

I think what he's doing is awesome... fuck the popo... why is he making it so public though? It's just going to cause the government to feel they have to show up... to save face.