Argumentative Essay: Pill Testing to Reduce Illicit Drug Harms

This essay compares and contrasts two articles discussing pill testing as a method to reduce the harms associated with illicit drug consumption. It analyzes the arguments presented in each article, weighing the potential benefits of providing drug users with information about the composition and purity of substances against the limitations and potential risks of on-site pill testing. The essay highlights the debate around whether pill testing can truly guarantee safety and effectively reduce harm, considering factors such as the accuracy of testing methods, the potential for false results, and the need for comprehensive public health strategies beyond pill testing alone. Ultimately, the essay concludes that while pill testing can contribute to harm reduction efforts, it should be implemented carefully and in conjunction with other measures to address the complex issue of drug-related harm.

Running Head: ARGUMENTATIVE ESSAY
Argumentative Essay
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

1ARGUMENTATIVE ESSAY
Topic – Pill testing to reduce the harms of illicit drug consumption
Pill testing is a drug checking service which conveys the information to people regarding
the content of illicit substances. The main idea is that those people who are aware of the drug
composition and the purity can take informed decision in terms of drug taking. The recreational
drugs are usually unregulated unlike that of the pharmaceutical drugs. The aim of this essay is to
compare, contrast and analyze two relevant articles. The essay will analyze each factor in the
articles and support the arguments with appropriate supporting evidence from the readings.
The first article that is titled as “Pill testing at music festivals: can we do more harm?”,
depicts the negative effects of the illicit drug use which has caused recent deaths and instances of
hospitalization of the young people. According to Schneider et al., (2016), rates are high and this
is the rationale behind the calls for on-site illicit drug containing capsules and tablets at the
different events and the festivals. On the other hand, another article which deals with the reason
behind the doctors’ backing the pill testing at the music festivals clearly presents the statistics of
the harm caused by illicit drug consumption. According to the article, in Australia, there are
many existing policies associated with the crude enforcement strategies. However, it failed to
impact on the drug usage or the level of harm caused by drug pills. The article further reports
that, in the year 2016, 14 years old 43 % people reported having consumed illicit drug sometime
in their lifetime. On the other hand, 28 % people reported having consumed drug in their 20s
(Lloyd Jones & Komesaroff, 2019). Therefore, it is evident that the propensity of illicit drug
consumption is more in the young people.
Surprisingly, the first article suggests that the pill testing does not necessarily guarantee
the product’s or the person’s safety from harms. It argues that the in Australia, the public health

2ARGUMENTATIVE ESSAY
policy and its innovative approaches are in contrast with the current policy makers. The
campaigns in Australia are more focused on the road safety, blood –borne virus infections
prevention as informed by Lloyd Jones and Komesaroff (2019). The randomized breath testing
and strict regulations on the wearing of helmets have helped in reducing the life risks. Therefore,
it can be said that the pill testing is important and supportive but apart from this, other measures
also need to be followed.
The first article has well described that the drug consumer might be provided insufficient
information about the drug he /she is consuming if the on –site pill testing is only based on the
qualitative and quantitative testing. It could be life threatening for the people who are regularly
consuming it. Hence, the on-site pill testing methods might not be sufficient enough for sticking
to the “harm reduction”: statement. These methods rather can elevate the tendency of causing
other problems. Notably, the pill testing techniques need to be developed up to greater extent to
avoid false results and analyze the content with proper precision, speed and also reliability as per
the views of Lloyd Jones and Komesaroff (2019). The articles have informed about the
feasibility and practicability of the clear pill testing method in the Europe and UK.
On a concluding note, it can be said that the recreational drugs are usually unregulated
unlike that of the pharmaceutical drugs. Although the pill –testing is a familiar method for
ensuring the safety of the product and the user, it can sometimes fail to deliver reliable results.
Both of these articles suggest that there are various new weapons available to actualize the
mission of “war on Drugs”. Regarding it, the pill testing cannot alone uproot the harm
completely but it can reduce the rates of harm significantly when handled with care.