BCHS joins with the Victoria Alcohol and Drug Association (VAADA) and other agencies to call on the Victorian Government to implement a drug checking service, as per recommendations from five Victorian coronial inquiries.
“We will continue to support VAADA to lobby government to progress sensible and effective harm reduction measures to reduce drug overdoses,” Dale said.
“We know that drug checking services, or pill testing, encourages people to reconsider consuming illicit drugs.”
Dale said now was the time to be providing this lifesaving service, given the current circulation of harmful substances.
“We are incredibly concerned about the risk of further overdoses, often among young people in the community.
“We know that many rural and regional young people travel to Melbourne to attend festivals, as well as gather at local events.
“We want them to know, it’s likely the substances that caused the Hardmission overdoses are still in communities around the state.
“Without a drug testing service, the only chance we have of detecting hazardous substances are when it’s too late.
“We want to reiterate that overdoses and deaths to overdose are preventable, and drug testing is one way to insure against tragedy.”
A drug checking bill, proposed by the Victorian Greens, the Legalise Cannabis Party and Animal Justice Party, will soon be introduced to parliament, and BCHS encourages the Victorian Government to support it when it does.
BCHS’ day-to-day actions to support people using drugs in Bendigo include counselling and education for clients and their families, residential and non-residential withdrawal programs, mobile drug safety services and access to clean injecting equipment.
If this story has raised issues about your own or others drug and alcohol use, please contact the national hotline for confidential counselling and referral on 1800 250 015.
(Main photo by Michał Parzuchowski on Unsplash)
