NSW: Let’s make pill testing permanent and accessible to everyone
Pill testing is finally coming to NSW music festivals. This is a vital step to prevent overdoses and help keep people safe.
But festivals aren’t the only time people need access to this life-saving service. We need permanent, accessible pill testing available year-round, in the community.
Sign our petition now and demand the NSW government make pill testing a permanent and accessible service for everyone. Let’s protect our community and prevent needless tragedies. Sign today!
About the campaign
Just Check It is a campaign by the Unharm Community – thousands of people fighting for fairer and more effective drug laws. We believe everyone deserves health and happiness. Outdated drug laws ignore the reality of drug use, cause unnecessary harm and undermine our ability to take care of one other.
We are the heroes in this story – everyday people committed to the health and happiness of our community. We have proven that when we take action together, politicians listen.
By signing this petition, you strengthen our movement. Together, we can show the NSW government that it’s time to prioritize safety with permanent, accessible pill testing services. Together, we can create a safer, healthier NSW for everyone. Join us and Just Check It!
Drug checking FAQs
- What is drug checking aka pill testing, and how does it work?
Drug checking is a harm reduction service that helps people who are planning on taking drugs know what they’re really taking. People can bring their drugs to be tested and talk to an expert about the strength and purity of what they’ve got, as well as get advice on how best to manage the risks
- Are drug checking and pill testing the same thing?
In a word, yes. Pill testing is the more commonly used name, but it implies that we can only test pills. We know that drugs come in many other forms and drug checking can test all of them for strength and purity
- Why is drug checking important?
It empowers people who are planning on taking drugs to make informed decisions to manage their own wellbeing. It also gives people access to expert health advice about taking drugs which can be very hard to access otherwise. This helps to reduce the chance of overdose deaths. Plus, it allows everyone to have a better understanding of what’s in drugs circulating in the community, meaning we can get more timely warnings when there’s bad batches floating around.
- Where has drug checking been successful?
Drug checking operates globally, including in nearly 30 countries. From New Zealand, to the UK, to the US, drug checking has been helping people stay safe for 30 years. It’s been running in Canberra for over a year, and will be helping people in Queensland by the end of the year. It’s endorsed by health professionals and has a proven track record.
- Is drug checking only for festivals?
While festivals are a focus because they’re places where lots of people will be taking drugs, often in hot, exposed conditions, we know that people also take drugs in a range of other settings. So we want the government to set up fixed site drug checking services for people to be able to get their drugs checked at any point.
- Does drug checking encourage drug use?
No, people are already taking drugs. Drug checking provides information for harm reduction, not endorsement. It’s about making informed choices and keeping people safe.
- How can I be sure drug checking is accurate?
The testing is conducted by expert chemists and health professionals to ensure precision, providing you with reliable results. Drug checking already operates in 28+ countries around the world and technology used has been validated through rigorous field testing.