Legalizing Pill Testing at Festivals: Benefits and Risks Analysis

This report delves into the concept of legalizing pill testing at festivals as a harm reduction strategy, analyzing its potential benefits and risks. It begins with an introduction highlighting the prevalence of drug use, particularly ecstasy, at festivals and the associated health risks. The literature review explores the existing research on pill testing, including its impact on drug consumption, motivational factors, and health outcomes. The report also discusses policies and issues surrounding the legalization of pill testing in different countries. The methodology involves a qualitative research approach using questionnaires to gather opinions on the topic. The data analysis section presents findings on the perceived effectiveness of pill testing in minimizing health risks. The conclusion summarizes the key findings and offers recommendations based on the research. The report emphasizes the need for further research and the importance of considering the broader societal context when evaluating the impact of pill testing.

Legalise Pill Testing at Festivals

Contents
INTRODUCTION.....................................................................................................................................3
LITERARCTURE REVIEW...................................................................................................................4
DISCUSSION............................................................................................................................................7
METHOD...................................................................................................................................................7
DATA ANALYSIS....................................................................................................................................7
CONCLUSION........................................................................................................................................15
RECOMMENDATION...........................................................................................................................15
REFERENCES........................................................................................................................................16

INTRODUCTION
Legalise Pill Testing is a great idea and reduction strategy that helping in festivals
because many people are faced problem due to use of drugs. It is to be considered an effective
strategy that can reduce the causes at festivals, raves and clubs etc. these type of pills involves
the party goers having the sample of drugs tested by expert and scientists. They always try to
collect the information about particular drug with keep maintain the usability in proper manner.
The primary aim of project to identify the harmful and toxic substances that directly effects on
the health of individuals.
In 2016, it was determined that there are 3.1 million people use the illicit drugs at festivals
seasons in the form of ecstasy, cannabis and cocaine etc. In this way, it also analysed that the age
group of between 20-30 are actively uses this type of drugs in their daily life (Morgan &
Silverstone, 2017). As per national institute of drug Abuse, it is considered as an illegal that
directly effects on human health. It also found that Australia market is becoming the dangerous
in the world by using unknown toxic drugs, which has been determined the extreme level cause
of body temperature and also reduced the function of neurocognitive, syndrome of serotonin and
death (Buijs & et.al., 2019). This research study must be concluded to supports by revealing that
there are 817 ecstasy cases registered in which increases of 501 from 2010. In Australia, the level
of ecstasy consumption has been taken in the form of pills. It has been increased the risk of
health diseases at festivals where the consumption of drug is normalised. In this way, it is
necessary to perform the task of pill testing which help to measure the harmful substances. The
society was not agreed on the methods of reduction.
Pill testing is basically type of advanced technique to reduce the harmful substances,
which required a lot of professional orchestration. As per suggestion, it will send the message
against the regulation of pill testing. In fact, it is quite expensive and complex, doesn’t guarantee
that people don’t consume illicit drugs. It only provide the fake type of safety as increasing the
confidence level of people to consume pills which have been tested.
The aim/purpose of study is to inspect the whether pill testing can help for utilising to
reduce harm drugs consumptions. However, in the culture or environment, the different types of
illicit drugs is taking in the normalised and accepted in society.

LITERARCTURE REVIEW
The concept of Pill testing strategy
According to Gittins, Schifano & Maidment (2019) On-site pill testing is a process that
can identify the harmful effects and causes due to drug that potentially use at festivals. The drugs
have extensive nature that’ why it must be used individual. This type of pill testing strategy
include, who will use ecstasy in the form of pills and increase the risk of negative health in
which directly associate with higher level of consumption.
Hutton (2019) said that it also revealed that illicit must be used the higher among young
adults, who will attend the festivals and consume drugs in higher amount. In this way, it has been
suggested to apply pill testing reduction method, it is primary goal at festivals those who are
participants as members in the society and have higher risk. As per analysis, It reveals that
legalise pill testing is the most effective harmful reduction method or strategy which are targeted
the group of population in Australia.
As per JADHAV (2018) the illicit drugs must be appeared among adolescent with 75% of
people who admitting to consume drug at festivals, parties etc. As per survey, it also determined
for taking pill has become normal of going in festivals, parties, clubs etc. In this way, it will
require to promote the message that should not consume pill without testing. The awareness
given by individual helping to knowledge about the drugs where people easily self-determined
the amount, quantity of drug consumption because it increases the death rate of people, who are
taking drugs at festivals. According to statistical data, it can be identified that distribution of age
group in festivals from UK, 21-15 years contributed the large number of festival goers in 2016.
Furthermore, as per data of national institute of Australia which stated that the age group in
between 18-28 are regularly users and consume drugs.
Motivate the individual to use drugs
According to Malins (2019) to develop an effective strategy of reduction method that
always motivate the people to minimize the drugs consumption at festivals. It offering the
various type of motivational theories which are related to the drug consumption. The
motivational theories are linked with the consumption of illicit pills during festivals, it is

considered the social identify theory. It can implement as an adolescents which become the
vulnerable to engage with the behaviour of people.
As per Norma (2019) there are various adolescents and teenagers likely to fall under the
pressure which lead to consumption of pills for first time without having prior knowledge about
the effects. Consequently, it can be increased the health issues that directly associated with the
consumption.
The research must be conducted by Ormsby (2019)and revealed that 70% people attend
the festival and use ecstasy, which is main source and offers in parties. As per normalised theory
of motivation to use pills at festivals while this type of pills has become acceptable in socially
which may derive to consume more drugs by individual. In this way, it has been considered as an
arguments against the legalise pill testing which further normalised the drugs consumption at
festivals. Thus, it is used motivations to use specific pills, the more appropriate method is testing
to utilise in proper manner. In contrast to the study, Seddon (2019) provide the view and suggest
that festival goers are consumed drugs for the purpose of energetic but it negatively effects on
human body. It also stated that the increased sociability and confidence which comes with the
higher level of consumption.
Legalise pills impact on health
The pill consumption and ecstasy have effects on the heath condition of individual on the
basis of long terms. In Australia, The market of ecstasy has become more dangerous in the global
world because there are various types of synthetic and toxic substances exists which supply to
mix with the pills. As per Sheldon (2019) it provide the evidence that 23,500 ecstasy drugs from
2006-2014. Australia is belong to the highest across five nations in which supply substances. It
includes Psychedelic, rat poison, PMA etc. this is main source of ecstasy in the various form of
drugs and people don’t have idea about the ketamine, bleach and rat poison etc. the study must
be conducted as per evidence that how pill testing method effective in terms of harm reduction.
76% ecstasy users are refused to intake the pill when outcome from drugs test could not be
identified in properly.

Watters & et.al. (2019) In finding of European, 85% people don’t consumed the pills
without being tested in proper manner. By using testing method to identify the harmful
substances and prevented. In festivals, they don’t consume the pills because they know about the
toxic substances that damage body. In this way, pills testing goes towards positive ways and
successfully minimized harmful effects. Apart from that it will increase the chances of diseases
such as high blood pressure, increase heart rate, hypothermia. Sometimes, it become dangerous
and cause of sudden death. The consumption of ecstasy and MDMA outcome in long term heath
diseases which may include distributed sleep patterns, reduce immunity system. It will increase
the level of serotonin in body which increases directly depression. Therefore, it reveal the
negative health effects by taking ecstasy and also found the nature of illicit pills.
As per Price & Munckton. (2018) It represent the overall health risk and behaviours of
people that engaged in order to influence of ecstasy rather than the hazardous effects on human
body. The author said that domestic violence, excessive alcohol consumption and unsafe sex are
directly related to the pills, who will use drugs. In this way, legalise pill testing would lead the
risk behaviour of human health, if it can implement where pill might be works to normalise
consumption. It require to make an effective strategies as supportive and education, all type of
age group people can understand in proper manner.
Policies and issues regarding legalise pill testing
van Rijk. (2017) said that there are various types of policies create by Australian
government to minimize the caused by pill or drugs at festivals. In compare with European
nations, they have created an efficient drug policies which help to reduce the harm and also
achieve to acknowledge about the facts related drugs. On the other hand, the countries of Austria,
Spain and Belgium have performed the action to test the pill. They also considered as a legal
aspects to minimize the harm which come from the ecstasy. The European nations differ from
Australia in terms of legislation for pill testing.
As per Gleeson. (2018)Netherlands is also another nation that are successfully
implementing the action towards pill testing. Whether the illicit pills was legalised where it also
decreases the issues heath risk and also identified the time taken for test issue. Some type of tests
are based on the colour match in which takes few minutes but doesn’t generate accurate

outcome. In this way, it can be use the chromatography test which provide accurate results
within specific time.
According to previous finding, it easy predicated that age group in between 18 to 28 will
be higher consumer of ecstasy through pills and also motivated as energy that come from drug
consumption. There are many participants agree with the advantage of legalise pill testing
method and also associated with the issues.
DISCUSSION
The outcome and results have represented the multiple differences and similarities in the
case study where it has been conducted the research to analyse legalise pill testing at festivals.
This strategy has implemented in the process to check the amount of harms in the illicit drugs.
As above analysis, it can be found that it is becoming a major causes of human health especially
in adults. It also analysed the policies that can implement to protect the life of individuals and
increase the awareness in between 18-28 age because they are having lack of knowledge about
the illicit drugs.
METHOD
In this study, it can be used the qualitative research method for identifying the view and
experience of people. It is employing a questionnaires with qualitative components through
journals, articles etc. The questionnaires may include 5 questions that help for identifying the
attitude, behaviour and beliefs towards legalise pill testing during festivals (Söderberg, 2016). It
also offered the wide range of response item which involves choice question, every participants
select the particular answer as per their own experience. In additional, it also created two open
ended questions where participants give their own opinion in qualitative manner.

DATA ANALYSIS
Data analysis is a process for collecting and gathering data or information related
research study. It can analyse the data which require for identifying the opinion of participant
through questionnaires (Chatwin, 2018).
Theme: 1 Legalise pill testing strategy will minimise the risk of heath.
Q1. Does the Legalise pill testing strategy will minimise the risk of heath?
Frequency Response
Agree 8
Strongly Agree 10
Disagree 6
Strongly disagree 3
Neutral 2
Total 30
Table: 1
Agree1 strongly agree 2 disagree 3 strongly disagree 4
0
0.5
1
1.5
2
2.5
3
3.5
4
4.5
5
4.3
2.5
3.5
4.5
2.4
4.4
1.8
2.8
2 2
3
5
Series 1 Series 2 Series 3

Data Interpretation:
In above table, it can be determined that there are maximum respondent agree on the
statement where legalise pill strategy always help to improve safety level of drugs because large
number of people consume ecstasy in the form of pills. It has been summarised that 8 respondent
agree, 10 strongly disagree, 6 are disagreed, 2 respondent are neutral which are agreed in both
conditions. In this way, it easily investigate about the pill testing strategy as per view of people.
Theme: 2 the prevalence of individual, who will consumed an illegal pill or drugs at festivals,
nightclubs.
Q1. Does the prevalence of individual, who will consumed an illegal pill or drugs at
festivals, nightclubs?
Frequency Response
Agree 5
Strongly Agree 11
Disagree 5
Strongly disagree 4
Neutral 5
Total 30
Table: 2

Agree strongly agree disagree strongly disagree
Data Interpretation:
In above chart, it has been summarised that there are maximum respondent agreed on the
statement where many peoples are prevalence the consumption of pill which is being illegal at
nightclubs and festivals. It has been found that there are large number of people use pills in
festive mode but it is not good for heath and increase the risk of disease. 5 respondents are
agreed, 10 strongly agree, 4 respondents are disagreed, 5 respondents are neutral. On the other
hand, in other countries like European where it is illegal to use illicit pill without tested and
many peoples are self-determined due to enough knowledge about the health risk.
Theme: 3 policies and procedure will help to improve the issues related illicit pill.
Q1. Does the policies and procedure will help to improve the issues related illicit pills
Frequency Response
Agree 7
Strongly Agree 15
Disagree 6
Strongly disagree 1
Neutral 1
Total 30

Table: 3
Category 1 Category 2 Category 3 Category 4
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
Series 1 Series 2 Series 3
Data Interpretation:
In above table, it has been summarised that there are maximum respondent agreed on the
statement where the policies and procedure are beneficial for improve the issues or problem due
to illicit pills. It has increased the risk of health issues where people suffering from multiple
syndrome, especially in use of excessive amount. Policies and procedures always helps to
implement the strategy for testing the drugs in proper manner. In above discussion, it can be
determined that 7 respondents are agreed, 15 strongly agree, 6 respondents are disagreed, 1
respondents are neutral, 1 respondent disagree. On the other hand, in other countries like
European where it is illegal to use illicit pill without tested and create an efficient policies to test
the drugs before usage.
Theme: 4 the motivational for the use of ecstasy in the form of pills at festivals.

Q1. Does the motivational for the use of ecstasy in the form of pills at festivals?
Frequency Response
Agree 3
Strongly Agree 10
Disagree 4
Strongly disagree 8
Neutral 5
Total 30
Table: 4
Category 1 Category 2 Category 3 Category 4
0
0.5
1
1.5
2
2.5
3
3.5
4
4.5
5
Series 1 Series 2 Series 3