In a landmark decision the ACT Government has allowed a pill testing service to operate at Canberra's Spilt Milk festival this November. Australia has a history of pioneering harm reduction initiatives but in recent years we have increasingly viewed drug use and related issues under the umbrella of criminal activity. In the midst of all this, a consortium of harm reduction advocates have been campaigning for pill testing services to be introduced. Months of careful negotiations, some setbacks and a hopeful yet realistic outlook have paid off, and we have the green light for pill testing to go ahead at Spilt Milk in November. It's a win for harm reduction, a win for effective policymaking, and a historic decision that will set a great precedent for Australian drug policy.

Source: Huffington Post September 25, 2017 00:00 UTC