Nurses and midwives have joined doctors and other health professionals in calling for the NSW government to urgently set up drug checking to help keep people safe during the upcoming festival season.
Recent deaths of music festival patrons, predictions of a hot summer and continued inaction by the government has prompted the NSW Nurses and Midwives’ Association (NSWNMA) to join the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners, Royal Australiasian College of Physicians, Health Services Union, and Australian Salaried Medical Officers Federation in urging the NSW government to commence a statewide pilot drug checking program.
Drug checking – colloquially known as pill testing – is a proven, effective step we can take to help people make informed and potentially life-saving decisions about taking drugs. In drug checking services, health professionals provide expert harm reduction advice and help people manage the risks of taking drugs.
Shaye Candish, NSWNMA General Secretary, said it was time for serious action by the government regarding this life-and-death issue.
“As health professionals, we understand the importance of listening to evidence. Harm minimisation is the best-practice approach, and it recognises people should be supported to reduce harm to themselves and the wider community,” Ms Candish said.
“Pill testing is an effective step to prevent overdoses and unnecessary deaths, it can also help people make informed decisions about taking drugs and lead to behavioural changes.”
Dr Hester Wilson, Chair of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners Specific Interests Addiction Medicine group echoed this sentiment.
“People don’t use substances to come to harm, and they do change their plans when they find out from substance safety checking that what they have is dangerous or more potent, and they are safer as a result,” Dr Wilson said.
“This is evidence-based policy, and it will save lives.”
Drug checking already operates in 28 countries around the world, including Australia and is supported by a strong evidence base that shows it helps people make better decisions for their own wellbeing.
Supportive unions and medical colleges have penned an open letter to the NSW government, which was delivered to the Premier today.
As health professionals, we believe in effective and evidence-based solutions that will help save lives.
We’ve joined with the @RACGP, @TheRACP, @HSUNSW and @ASMOFnsw in calling for @ChrisMinnsMP to implement a pilot drug checking program for this summer festival season. pic.twitter.com/SiZS6Jlqsc
— NSW Nurses & Midwives (@nswnma) October 26, 2023