While today’s announcement by the Minns Government of the first site for a drug checking trial, at the Yours and Owls music festival in Wollongong next month, is a welcome step – a statewide roll out of a permanent program across NSW – including a fixed site facility – is urgently needed. 

“The announcement today with details about the first site of this drug checking trial, at the Yours and Owls music festival next month, following long-term advocacy by the community, Uniting NSW.ACT and partners of the Fair Treatment campaign, is a logical direction in harm reduction in NSW,” Emma Maiden, Uniting NSW.ACT’s Director of Advocacy and External Relations said.

“Giving people good information about the drugs they are planning to take saves lives and helps people make more informed choices.  

“If one life is saved, this trial will be worth it.  

“Evidence shows these services have been highly effective at keeping people safe by reducing immediate drug use, preventing overdose and connecting people who use drugs with health services. For many young people this could be the first time they have spoken to a health practitioner about their drug use,” Emma said. 

“Families who have tragically lost loved ones to overdose at music festivals have been calling for these measures for many years here in NSW, and right across the country. 

“Every life is worth saving. One life lost is one too many, especially when we know that overdose deaths are largely preventable,” she said.  

“Drug testing is simple, proven and it saves lives.  

“While we commend the Government for announcing the first location for this twelve month trial – we need to urgently implement an ongoing program for all festivals across NSW and a fixed site facility to provide this life-saving service for people who use drugs outside the festival setting,” Emma said. 

Recently released results from the Australian Institute for Health and Welfare (AIHW) show that support for harm reduction across Australia has never been higher. Specifically, there is majority support for drug checking (now at 64%) and over 4 in 5 (83%) people who had recently used drugs supported drug checking.