Key Factors
- The deaths of two males at a music competition over the weekend have sparked renewed requires tablet testing.
- Neither loss of life has been confirmed to be on account of drug use, however an MP and drug help advocates are urging motion.
- Tablet testing at music festivals at present solely takes place within the ACT.
Stress is mounting on the NSW authorities to begin tablet testing after two males died on the opening weekend of the summer time music competition season.
The 2 males of their 20s died after leaving the Knockout Out of doors competition at Sydney Showground on Saturday and police are ready for post-mortem studies.
“It isn’t particularly being handled as a suspected drug overdose,” Detective Superintendent Simon Glasser advised reporters outdoors Auburn Police Station on Sunday.
Premier Chris Minns has beforehand resisted requires tablet testing at music festivals which solely occurs at festivals within the ACT.
Pageant-goers present a pattern of their tablet to analysts stationed on the occasion who’re capable of present particulars about what’s within the tablet and the related dangers.
Trials confirmed many individuals who have been advised their tablet was harmful selected to throw it away.
Advocates name for hurt discount method
Greens MP Cate Faerhmann and drug help advocates are calling for rapid motion to avert extra deaths in the course of the competition season, saying there’s sufficient proof to point out tablet testing prevents hurt.
“It is extremely irritating that governments do not appear to behave except there is a disaster however then all they’ve achieved after the disaster is fee studies after which not act on the suggestions,” Faerhmann advised reporters on Monday.
“It is going to be a extremely popular summer time and it is going to be a really harmful summer time except Chris Minns acts.”
Faerhmann criticised the police use of sniffer canines, saying the tactic was identified to extend dangerous behaviour as festival-goers panicked and ingested all their medicine without delay.
In NSW, cops can undertake both normal or strip searches if they’ve an affordable suspicion of illicit drug possession.
“We will not cease individuals taking medicine at music festivals, so let’s deal with making everybody safer,” she stated.
Police observe attendees on the Hear Out music competition in Sydney. Supply: AAP / Samantha Lock
Household Drug Assist chief government Tony Trimingham stated competition deaths on account of medicine have been preventable however the problem had turn out to be political.
He begged the premier to take up a suggestion from his organisation to offer free tablet testing.
“We’re the consultants, we all know what we’re doing, we’ve the expertise and we have achieved it earlier than,” he stated.
“We all know the vast majority of the general public help tablet testing as a result of the general public realise that it may very well be them getting that horrible knock on the door about their beloved one.”
Well being minister: tablet testing not a ‘silver bullet’
Well being Minister Ryan Park expressed sorrow for the households of the 2 deceased males and famous his division took a hands-on method to drug hurt prevention at music festivals.
Measures embrace chill-out zones, on-site messaging about overdose signs and public warnings of high-dose or unhealthy batches.
Tweaks will likely be thought of over coming days however Park stated tablet testing wouldn’t be a silver bullet to cease deaths or critical hurt from using illicit medicine.
“All of us have a job to play on this house however nobody specific initiative goes to provide full protection and guarantee everybody goes house safely,” he stated.
Labor has promised to look at authorized, regulation enforcement, schooling, well being and remedy points together with tablet testing at a drug summit subsequent yr.
