03/02/25
Pill testing, also known as drug checking, aims to reduce harms from illicit drug use and save lives.
Victoria's pill testing service started at Beyond the Valley (BTV) festival from 28 December 2024 to 1 January 2025.
The Victorian Government has announced the next festivals and events to have pill testing during the 2024-25 music festival season. Victoria's pill testing service will operate at:
- Hardmission at Werribee Racecourse on 8 February 2025
- Pitch Music & Arts Festival in Moyston from 7 to 11 March 2025
- Ultra at Flemington Racecourse on 12 April 2025
- The Warehouse Project at Port Melbourne Industrial Centre for the Arts (PICA) on 25 April 2025
The drug checking service is free, confidential and anonymous. It will attend up to 10 festivals and events during an 18-month implementation trial. A fixed-site service is due to open in inner Melbourne in mid-2025.
During the 4 day BTV festival, the mobile drug checking service tested more than 600 samples.
Harm reduction workers at the service spoke to 700 festivalgoers. For more than 70%, it was the first time they had ever had an open, judgement-free conversation with a health professional about drug and alcohol safety.
Nearly 40% of those using the service said they intended to use a smaller amount of their drugs following a conversation with a healthcare worker.
Read more about Victoria's pill testing service.
To find how pill testing works, watch our video on the Better Health Channel.
Reviewed 03 February 2025
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