ICYMI: Victoria is instituting a statewide pill testing service

In case you missed it, Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan has confirmed that pill testing will become permanent in her state following an 18-month trial of the service.

In late June, Premier Allan confirmed that mobile pill testing teams will visit 10 festivals to conduct initial trials, and by mid-2025 there will be a fixed location in Melbourne’s inner city.

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In announcing the scheme, Allan was quick to establish a position on the ever-present debate around drug testing encouraging further use.

"We know the evidence tells us they are less likely to consume that drug, so why wouldn't we use that health-based approach, that evidence-based approach, because if it has the potential to save just one life it has absolutely been worth it,'' she said.

"Victorian paramedics responded to more drug overdoses at music festivals in just three months this year than they did for the entirety of 2023," she said. "We need to accept the evidence and the reality."

With Victoria following Canberra, Queensland and New South Wales, all with their own trials currently running, Allan maintained that the decision was a necessary one.

With a recent spike in overdoses due to the presence of synthetic opioids, this announcement comes at an important time.

"We've seen drug overdoses increase by 61 per cent since 2010," she said.

"We have detected more than 1,000 new drugs in the past decade and we're seeing more and more dangerous synthetics.

"This is really important in terms of reducing drug harm in our community. It will help people make safer and more informed decisions about their drug use and it will also reduce pressure on our health system and unnecessary burdens on our health and emergency service personnel."