Pill test trial results lead to it becoming permanent at NSW music festivals | ABC NEWS
Pill testing will be made permanent in New South Wales after a trial at music festivals was linked to a decrease in drug-related hospitalisations.
The Minns government will provide a drug checking service at up to 15 festivals per year, beginning in October.
The trial, recommended by the drug summit in December 2024, ran for one year from March 2025.
NSW Health carried out testing at 12 festivals, with more than 1,800 people visiting the service and almost 1,500 samples analysed.
An evaluation by the University of Sydney found the drug checking service was associated with reduced rates of drug-related hospital presentations.
There were 2.3 hospital presentations per festival day during the trial, compared to an average of 3.6 over the previous two years.
“A trend towards decreasing hospital presentations during the trial year is seen,” the report states.
“This was seen across festivals of all sizes and music styles.”
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