Another overdose death at a music festival in NSW. Is it time to introduce pill testing?

Interested to hear what people think about pill testing at functions like music festivals. From what I've read from studies overseas, it seems to have a positive impact on people at functions and there are claims that it has reduced deaths and even led to an improvement in the quality of drugs on the market.

What do people think about it?

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SW-User Best Comment

I think half of those overdoses come from the fear of confrontation of sniffer dogs, I nearly swallowed 20 something pills in a night club because I thought I was going to get done. Being in a box is a lot better for me than the best years of my life caged.
The authorities have to accept that party drugs are part of the music festival culture in Australia, and people are going to have an eccy or an acid tab seeing their fave gig and it’s a peaceful atmosphere compared to being in a club full of drunks in king street smashing empty bottles over each other. If recreational use wasn’t criminalised, and pill testing facilities are avaliable, people are more likely to throw their drugs away if it’s found to have adulterated contents. Think how many lives would be saved, and less lives and futures ruined on behalf of criminal convictions if testing was allowed. But the problem is the NSW government are a bunch of nazis with heads that far up their arses looking back into the 19th century, and they encourage the other states to follow their bullshit zero tolerance bullshit. Go bust people with ice that’s causing alarming criminal activity and domestic violence.

SW-User

Cheers for the B/A 🍻

Bushranger · 70-79, M

@SW-User Drug dogs aren't that accurate either. One of my sons was at a pub and a dog reacted to him. He was taken outside and asked about what he'd been using. He pulled a half eaten kebab out of his pocket and told the cop to feed his dog. After a full search, they let him go.

And I'll agree with you about the nightmare of being in a club full of drunks. Nothing worse if you ask me. Alcohol is responsible for more injury, death and violence than any other drug, but it's freely available.

SW-User

I’ve watch documentaries and read a lot about the hidden agenda on the war on drugs. Drugs like MDMA, LSD, and mind expanding halloucinogens, once seized they were destroyed after used for evidence, but mind altering substances like cocaine, heroin and especially ice or known as meth, there’s never real drought seasons especially after busts, after the busts its back on the streets again. Heroin was created by a pharmaceutical company Bayer it was used to treat morphine addiction, and ironically they use methadone to treat heroin addiction 70 years later to the present day. See the patterns, also notice when I mentioned above “mind expanding” and “mind altering” substances, there is a surprising difference.@Bushranger

Bushranger · 70-79, M

@SW-User I'm usually not into conspiracy theories, but I'm inclined to agree with you. There's way too much money in drugs for certain, so called upright, members of society not to get their hands dirty.

I'll admit that I've been out of circulation for too many years. My knowledge of drugs is now very limited, but I think I know what you mean about the differences.

SW-User

Especially the cocaine, heroin and meth industries, big money because of supply and demand, and another thing all those 3 have in common, they are highly addictive where as eccies and LSD and others are not addictive at all. Even the cops here had their fair slice of the pie in the coke, smack and ice trade.@Bushranger

Bushranger · 70-79, M

@SW-User No! Police involved in the drug trade? I can't believe it LOLOLOLOL

SW-User

Lol NSW had that rep in the 80s that was well known. You would have been my age when that was going on.@Bushranger

Bushranger · 70-79, M

@SW-User Wasn't only the 80s, bro. 60s and 70s was a prime time for cops and drugs. Quite a few guys were given the option of work for the cops or get done for two or three times the amount they had on them. Or so I have been told lol.

SW-User

Fucking dirty dogs they are, there has been quite a big swarm of police corruption the last several decades, funny how it’s forgotten these days though but few still remember. Even Victoria had its fair share. Some have even known to have made blokes “disappear”.@Bushranger

Bushranger · 70-79, M

@SW-User And let's not talk about bloody Queensland.

I grew up in the Western suburbs of Sydney, knew quite a few very good, honest cops. But, unfortunately, there were also a good number who should have been locked up and the key thrown away.

SW-User

Too many of them, at least the ones in uniform walking the city streets say gday these days but the ones in the higher hierarchy are the ones not to be trusted. @Bushranger

Bushranger · 70-79, M

@SW-User Their not as friendly as they used to be. I've had two instances where cops have had their hands over their guns while talking to me. The first time I was riding my Honda 4 to work and was a bit over the limit in the early 80s, had a fair bit of beard and hair at the time, plus the leather jacket boots etc. Young cop pulled me up initially stood there with his hand nearly touching his .38 until I finally convinced him I wasn't going to rape him or anything.

Second time I had a state government ID hanging around my neck, relatively short hair and beard and driving a nice little hatchback. Pulled up for a random breath test, told the cop that it would be easier for me to get my wallet out if I got out of the car. Again, he had his hand near his gun while I got out of the car. Said to him, "seriously, man. Look at me. Do I look like I'm gonna jump you?" And I don't even look scary lol.

SW-User

The ones on the road can be real cunts, it’s like they try to look for something to get you with, I had my car searched when I was 18 just because it was a $500 car.@Bushranger

Bushranger · 70-79, M

@SW-User What's known as a junkies car. Flog em off cheap for a few hits lol.

SW-User

Lol I had a couple of weapons in the car at the time too that they didn’t find. I was a young hoodlum back then lol. I was driving a Holden Gemini 1979 model.@Bushranger

Bushranger · 70-79, M

@SW-User Fuck, you were lucky, bro. I just used to carry some lengths of very hard rubber. If anyone asked, they were for padding under the car seat when I needed it.

SW-User

I was still on my P plates and was only licenced to drive auto, they didn’t even pick up that my car was a manual lol.@Bushranger

Bushranger · 70-79, M

@SW-User Lol.