Pill testing at music festivals: is it evidence‐based harm reduction?. Issue 4 (8th April 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Scott, Ian A.; Scott, Russ J.
• Is Part Of: Internal medicine journal. Volume 50:Issue 4(2020)
• Page Start: 395
• Page End: 402
• Publication Date: 2020-04-08
• Subjects: pill testing -- music festivals -- harm reduction -- evidence of efficacy; Medicine -- Periodicals; 616
• DOI: 10.1111/imj.14742
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1444-0903

Abstract

Abstract: Recent pill‐related deaths of young people at music festivals in Australia have led to a concerted push for on‐site pill testing as a means for preventing such events. However, whether pill testing (also termed 'safety checking') is an effective harm reduction strategy remains uncertain. This narrative review concludes that pill testing currently lacks evidence of efficacy sufficient to justify publicly funded national roll‐out of on‐site pill‐testing programmes. Australian governments, addiction specialists and public health experts should collaborate in conducting properly designed field studies aimed at confirming clear benefits from such programmes in reducing pill‐related harm.