Drug testing is set to resume at music festivals across New South Wales starting in October. NSW Health will consult with the music festival industry and harm reduction organisations to implement pill testing at up to 15 festivals each year.
This decision follows a 12-month trial that concluded in February, during which 1,480 drug samples were tested across 12 NSW music festivals. An independent evaluation by the University of Sydney, released on Wednesday, indicated that individuals altered their drug-taking approach after testing, particularly when substances differed from their expectations.
Unexpected substances were identified in 8% of samples, while high-dose MDMA was found in 4% of MDMA samples where dosage could be calculated. High doses of MDMA are associated with an increased risk of organ failure and death.
Despite calls from health and harm reduction groups for a wider community rollout of drug testing, the state government has confirmed there are no plans to expand the service beyond festivals. The controversial use of sniffer dogs and searches at music festivals will also continue, a government spokesperson confirmed. Health and harm reduction groups argue that sniffer dogs can lead to riskier drug taking, as individuals may consume all their substances at once to avoid detection.