The Yours and Owls festival in Wollongong this March will be the first music festival in New South Wales to implement pill-testing as part of a 12-month trial by the Minns government to mitigate harm from illicit drug use. This free and anonymous service allows attendees to have small samples of substances tested for purity and potency by qualified health professionals. However, festival-goers are reminded that this initiative is not a drug amnesty, and all drug use carries inherent risks.
Health Minister Ryan Park emphasised that no substance can be deemed safe, and while illicit drug use remains illegal, the aim is to provide harm minimisation, not legal protection for suppliers. Festival co-founder Ben Tillman welcomed the move, acknowledging that while there is a zero-tolerance policy towards illegal drugs, an abstinence-only approach is ineffective. The testing service will not provide guarantees of safety but aims to inform and direct patrons to appropriate health services if needed.
Advocacy group leaders are calling for the establishment of a permanent drug-testing facility, highlighting that informed choices can save lives. The trial’s efficacy will undergo independent evaluation after its completion, marking a significant step in ensuring safer environments at festivals across the state.