Four more events have been confirmed to take part in the state government’s mobile pill testing trial – giving more Victorians access to the life-saving service.
Pill testing will be available at a mix of single-day and multi-day events over the coming months, including Hardmission Festival (8 February), Pitch Music and Arts Festival (7-11 March), Ultra Music Festival (12 April) and The Warehouse Project (25 April).
Pill testing was introduced following a spike in drug harm last year, with nine people critically unwell at Hardmission Festival – all experiencing life-threatening hyperthermia after using high potency MDMA in a hot and humid environment, while one death related to a suspected overdose also occurred at Pitch Music and Arts Festival.
The pill testing service is completely free and confidential and is staffed by an experienced team of experts who not only test substances with world-leading technology, but also provide confidential health information to help people make safer, more informed decisions.
The announcement of the final four events for this festival season follows the successful launch of Victoria’s first mobile pill testing service in December at the Beyond the Valley.
More than 700 people used the service – the majority in their late teens or early twenties – and staff tested more than 600 samples – or about one in 50 festivalgoers.
Operated by The Loop and Harm Reduction Victoria, in partnership with Youth Support and Advocacy Service –Victoria’s pill testing service uses state of the art mobile testing equipment with capacity to conduct up to 30 tests an hour, more than any other pill testing service in Australia.
