Legalizing Pill Testing at Festivals: A Public Health Perspective

This report delves into the contentious debate surrounding the legalization of pill testing at festivals. It begins by defining pill testing and its purpose in harm reduction, aiming to protect users from dangerous substances in illicit drugs. The report reviews existing literature on the topic, examining the impact of pill testing, including its potential to inform consumer choices and influence the black market. It explores the need for legal frameworks to support pill testing, referencing examples from various countries and highlighting the role of social and healthcare organizations. The report then addresses legislative and healthcare controversies, including concerns about normalizing drug consumption. It discusses ethical issues and frameworks in other countries, such as the Netherlands and Switzerland, and identifies research gaps and limitations in existing studies. The discussion section analyzes the potential benefits of pill testing in terms of harm reduction and public health, while also acknowledging the concerns of government and legislative bodies. The report concludes by summarizing the arguments for and against legalization, highlighting the complexities of the issue and the need for a balanced approach that prioritizes public safety and informed decision-making.

Legalising Pill Testing at
Festivals

TABLE OF CONTENT
BACKGROUND INFORMATION ...............................................................................................1
LITERATURE REVIEW ...............................................................................................................1
PILL TESTING ..........................................................................................................................1
IMPACT OF PILL TESTING ....................................................................................................2
NEED FOR LEGALISING PILL TESTING IN FESTIVE EVENTS .......................................2
LEGISLATIVE AND HEALTH CARE CONTROVERSIES RELATED TO ISSUE .............3
DISCUSSION .................................................................................................................................4
CONCLUSION ...............................................................................................................................5
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................5

BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Drug overdose related deaths among youth is becoming a major concern for the health
professionals and government authorities. There has been increasing trend of taking drugs in the
music and cultural festivals such as Christmas or New year. Pill testing is defined as the harm
reduction service which analyses the drug content consumed at festivals or other recreational
events. The aim of pill testing is to protect consumers from life threatening impact of harmful
substances present in illicit drugs. The issue has been gaining a lot of controversy due to
increasing number of deaths due to drug overdose at festive events. There is need to develop a
regulatory framework so that this practice can be encouraged and people can be protected from
the drug reactions. This presentation aims at providing an overview of the ongoing debates on
the issue of legalizing pill testing during festivals.
LITERATURE REVIEW
PILL TESTING
According to Day & et.al., (2018) the tragic development in terms of drug availability at
festive events and deaths due to over dosage of drugs has urged for the need of pill testing across
Australia. Considerable number of people consume illegal drugs in the festival events such as
musical events. However due to regulation on their supply and availability these drugs are sold
and used in black market production and thus most of the users does not have any information
regarding their outcomes or the dangerous additive present in the drugs.
Luther & et.al., (2018) stated that when small sample of substance is tested so that users
can be provided with the necessary information related to it then such analysis is known as pill
testing. It can also be used so that individuals can be provided with necessary counselling and
guidance without involvement or action from police or other authorities. The testing is also
supported by various health professionals such as nursing and midwifery associations, general
practitioners and other medical associations. One of the most significant advantage of
performing such testing is that it helps in peddling extremely harmful substances which are not
recognized by users and leads to adverse consequences.
As per the view of Haggan, (2019) pill testing or the drug check does not help to reduce
the harmful risk factors instead it will give people a green licence to openly promote and support
the recreational drugs which are banned by the government. The aim of promoting pill testing is
to acknowledge users of recreational drugs about health consequences of the drug so that they
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can take informed decisions about the drug they are consuming in the festival events or parties.
Some commercial kits for pill testing are also available in the market which are used by festival
goers which can be used. However, these test kits does not inform about dangerous agents in the
drug and thus are less significant and not approachable to every user.
IMPACT OF PILL TESTING
Pill testing is very common in European counties and is considered as valuable as it gives
an opportunity to users to make informed choice regarding drug consumption. At festivals there
is huge number of users who seeks to consume recreational drugs. Hollett & Gately, (2019)
stated that the availability of pill testing kits or the booths inform users about drug content. The
most supportive users of these drugs which belongs to age group 20-29 tends to make better
decisions when pill testing is performed in real time during festivals. Pill testing can bring
significant changes to black market as when people will have validated proofs regarding health
consequences then they will make wise decisions.
The results of pill testing have significant impact upon the behaviour of individuals,
consumption choice and drug dosage. Groves, (2018) elucidated that through pill testing services
at events clinical authorities will get a rare opportunity to communicate with the drug consumers
so that their drug difficulties and health issues can be resolved. Using the statistics and records of
pill testing government can also receive data so that health policies and control systems can be
developed and improved for psychoactive drugs. Contrary to this Dilkes-Frayne, (2016) argued
that pill testing will not serve benefits for every individual. As legal pill testing can normalize
illicit drug consumption it is possible that people can ignore the test results and the consumption
of such drugs can increase drastically.
NEED FOR LEGALISING PILL TESTING IN FESTIVE EVENTS
According to Barratt & et.al., (2019) several countries such as Netherlands, Belgium,
Spain, Germany, England and France have frameworks for the pill testing. The pill testing is
provided by both local government and communities. However still there is lack of legal
framework endorsed by the government for the testing purpose. Several social and health care
organisations also support pill testing. For instance in New Zealand volunteer groups such as
'KnowYourStuffNZ' offers pill testing services. This organization works independently but also
receives support from New Zealand Drug Foundation. Though Australia has known to be very
popular in adopting “harm minimization approach” to drugs but still there is lack of legal
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framework for the pill testing. Despite having penalties, crude messages and criminalization of
the drug use have no impact upon the drug consumption in the festive events. The availability
and self realization plays an important role in controlling drug addiction.
Teetzel & Torres, (2016) stated that drug consumption and associated deaths can be
minimized if government will provide supportive framework for the pill testing. The pill testing
can be considered as an effective measure to control and regulate the black marketing of such
illegal drugs. It has been also analysed that the apart from raves and drug parties the presence of
recreational drugs in festivals act as major risk factor for encouraging new users to consume
drugs. For example there are many people in the festivals who have never consumed drugs, but
they may get influenced by the other people and may desire to take initiative in consuming
drugs. In such instances the legal framework for the pill testing can help them to choose the best
option and to avoid indulgence in any of drug activities. Many youngsters who consume drugs in
the influence of their friends are not aware of the consequences or the ingredients. Thus, the
results of the pill tests will make them aware and overall health outcomes of the communities
will be improved.
LEGISLATIVE AND HEALTH CARE CONTROVERSIES RELATED TO ISSUE
As per the view of Luther & et.al., (2018) the major concern for permitting the pill testing
as legal measure is that it will give communities a message that government is supporting
normalization of drug consumption. Hence, there will be a misconception among people and
there will be increased consequences of drug misuse. Thus, government authorities are not
against the pill testing, but they are not willing to give it a legal framework. Contrary to this
Hawthorne, (2018) claims that existing regulations are not able to completely prohibit the drug
consumption during festivals. However, the pill testing can serve as an opportunity to improve
the situation.
When pill testing will be legalized then it will be easy for the government to identify the
drug dealers and individuals who are involved in the issue. Through the legal framework health
care service providers and responsible authorities can ensure that drug dealers and organizers of
the festivals are not playing with the life of individuals by keeping them in dark. Compulsive pill
testing can give an opportunity to individuals to strictly monitor the ingredients of the drug they
are consuming. On the basis of pill testing records government can also develop health care
policies so that drug addicts can be approached and suitable medication and rehabilitation
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facilities can be provided to them. There are individuals who are demanding that irrespective of
the possibility that drug usage will be normalized due to legal framework government must
consider this as a promotional approach to save the lives of people and to encourage them to quit
from such practices.
ETHICAL ISSUES AND FRAMEWORKS IN OTHER COUNTRIES
 Pill testing has been very common practice in European countries. In Europe there are
around 14 organisations which provide pill testing services.
 In Netherland Drug Information and Monitoring System (DIMS) has fixed sites across
the country so that pill testing services are easily accessible to people.
 In countries such as Switzerland, Austria, Spain, Portugal and UK energy and drug
control labs are present which performs party drug testing legally.
 However the ethical issue in providing a legal framework for pill testing is that it may
misguide the youth with the fact that ban on such drug is mere formality and even
government supports the consumption of such festival drugs.
RESEARH GAPS AND LIMITATIONS
The previous studies does not provide comprehensive discussion of the lab testing facilities such
as pill testing centres or mobile vans which are now easily available during festivals. The
literature also excludes the increasing participation of global trade and global festival events
which makes the use of festival drugs more frequent and easy. One of the limitation of the study
is that it does not include any comparative analysis of various pill testing methods which can also
affect their availability, effectiveness and challenges in legalisation process.
DISCUSSION
The availability of pill testing services in festivals can save the lives of people who are at
vulnerability of high risk due to lack of awareness or drug over dosage. There are many people
who desire to know the possible extent of the risk a particular drug can cause. However, they are
afraid or seeking any professional or clinical help because these drugs are not promoted healthy
or legally. Thus, availability of pill testing at the venues can facilitate and inspire various people
to take initiative and to understand the risk factors. Though there has been regular demand for
legalizing pill testing so that people can have a safe and clinic way to analyse the drug and can
easily discard their usage on the basis of suitable judgement.
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From the research it has been observed that among survey of 100 people majority of
young people stated that pill testing does not give them any wrong message. However a good
proportion of the individuals are also uncertain that if pill test act as promoter of drug or not. The
same trend is also observed as people believes that consuming such illegal drugs is choice of
people and pill testing can help them to improve their choice for health improvement. Another
fear among young people in legalising pill testing is that they are afraid that if testing is done at
music festival then police may arrest them. This is one of the reason that despite having interest
people does not encourage such practice and consume drugs. Thus legal pill testing can help such
young people who desire to assess the content of drug they are consuming during festivals.
However, the arguments presented by government and other legislative bodies are also
justified and cannot be neglected. It has been analysed that the biggest concern in the legalization
is that drugs which are consumed at festivals are usually illegal and people are violating the
regulations. Thus, if pill testing is made legal then indirectly it will also normalize the illegal
drug consumption. It will also encourage new users to take part in such activities because legal
pill testing will encourage people and drug dealer to believe that drugs are legal and not harmful
as they have government support as well.
It will also have an adverse impact on sense of security as people will assume that law
enforcement are mere formality and does not have any significant meaning. Contrary to this
argument majority of the individuals and users believes that many people take these drugs due to
excitement, lack of awareness and in the influence of others. Hence, if pill testing is not allowed
then there will be continuous and increasing trend of drug related death. Thus, it is required that
pill testing must be immediately bring into enforcement so that millions of people can be saved
from the unknown danger they are with. It has been also analysed that health care professionals
and community service providers assume that drugs are illegal, but they are still in use.
The number of deaths are still the major concern and the existing regulations does not
have control over it. However, if pill testing services are available and made legal then there are
possibility that number of drug related deaths can be reduced to a great extent. Through such
services people will come to know about harmful consequences of the drug they are consuming.
It will create a self awareness and consciousness among people regarding health. Another
important perspective analysed from the above is that legal pill testing can also assist health care
professionals to provide assistance to people. Most of the people who are addicted to drugs and
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need support services does not have access to rehabilitation centres or the health service
providers who can assist in controlling drug addiction.
CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
It can be concluded that similar to the other health care policies pill testing must also be
legalized during public events. It has been popular trend among people especially tourists and
young people to consume certain drugs without having any prior information regarding drug
content. Thus, the legalization of drug testing will create awareness among people, and they will
be more aware of the drug over dosage or health impacts due to drug reactions.
It has been also analysed from the above discussion that pill testing can act as early
warning system and government can also access helpful data to approach individuals who desire
to improve the quality of their health. However certain aspects such as approval of users and
service providers and threats to encourage drug consumption may not support the pill testing as
effective measure. Thus, it is recommended that adopt suitable measurements must be adopted so
that legal framework for the pill testing can be incorporated in the best way with aim to improve
community health. In addition to this young people must also be inspired to promote pill testing
so that drug overdose and harmful risk can be minimised.
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REFERENCES
Barratt, M. J. & et.al., (2019). Australian music festival attendees who seek emergency medical
treatment following alcohol and other drug use.
Day, N. & et.al., (2018). Music festival attendees’ illicit drug use, knowledge and practices
regarding drug content and purity: a cross-sectional survey. Harm reduction
journal, 15(1), 1.
Dilkes-Frayne, E. (2016). Drugs at the campsite: Socio-spatial relations and drug use at music
festivals. International journal of drug policy, 33, 27-35.
Groves, A. (2018). ‘Worth the test?’Pragmatism, pill testing and drug policy in Australia. Harm
reduction journal, 15(1), 12.
Haggan, M. (2019). Pill testing: Passing the test. AJP: The Australian Journal of
Pharmacy, 100(1181), 18.
Hawthorne, M. (2018). AMA would like to see pill testing at festivals. Australian
Medicine, 30(16), 9.
Hollett, R. C., & Gately, N. (2019). Risk intentions following pill test scenarios are predicted by
MDMA use history and sensation seeking: a quantitative field study at an Australian
music festival. Drug and alcohol review.
Luther, M. & et.al., (2018). An effective risk minimization strategy applied to an outdoor music
festival: a multi-agency approach. Prehospital and disaster medicine, 33(2), 220-224.
Teetzel, S., & Torres, C. R. (2016). Drug Testing, Sex Verification, and the 1967 Pan-American
Games. The International Journal of the History of Sport, 33(1-2), 127-146.
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