Pill testing will be trialled in Victoria this summer after legislation enshrining it into law passed state parliament.
The passing of the Drugs, Poisons and Controlled Substances Amendment (Pill Testing) Bill 2024 means Victoria is the first state in the country to have legislation in support of pill testing.
Pill testing allows recreational drug users to find out the make-up of their pills and identify harmful substances before consuming them.
The bill allows both fixed and mobile pill testing services to operate in Victoria – meaning operating or using these services is no longer against the law.
The new legislation also supports increased access to naloxone, the overdose reversal medicine, through 20 vending machines to be established across Victoria by mid-2025.
Mental Health Minister Ingrid Stitt said while no drug was ever truly safe, pill testing would allow Victorians to be better informed about their drug use.
“We have made it clear since announcing this trial – these changes don’t make drugs legal, but by having pill testing services in place, we can help to keep more Victorians safe during busy summer festival seasons,” Ms Stitt said.
“The passing of this nation-leading legislation paves the way for our implementation trial to begin – this will allow us to explore what model works best because there’s plenty of evidence that pill testing saves lives.”
The mobile pill testing service will begin during this summer’s festival season and will attend up to 10 music festivals and events throughout the implementation trial period.
A fixed site will also open by the middle of next year, operating with targeted hours, and located in an inner Melbourne area close to nightlife and transport.
