Pill Testing Australia Launches Fundraiser To Introduce Free Trials Nationwide

Pill Testing Australia, the consortium behind last year's pill testing trial at the Canberra Groovin The Moo, have today launched a fundraiser to help introduce free trials around the country. 

The campaign aims to raise $100,000 for "two ALPHA II drug testing machines, logistic expenses, resources, volunteer travel" to make pill testing trials accessible in every Australian state and territory. 

“Our goal is to provide pill testing trials at events around Australia,” said Gino Vumbaca, president of Harm Reduction Australia. “Offering trials at festivals and music events is about testing our ‘medical model’ of pill testing, to conduct interventions and report on outcomes in an Australian context."

"Last year, on the smell of an oily rag and the goodwill of the ACT Government & Groovin The Moo, Pill Testing Australia conducted Australia’s first-ever government sanctioned pilot of pill testing in Canberra," said Dr David Caldicott in an open letter on the Pill Testing Australia wesbite. "We are back again this year - bigger and better - with our second outing on April 28th.

"The support from the medical and scientific community for pill testing is pretty much unanimous, no matter what some Australian politicians would have you believe. Over a dozen professional medical bodies, medical, nursing, paramedical and pharmaceutical now stand with us and 20 years of global data shows that shows pill testing reduces drug consumption and reduces harm."

Last year's Groovin The Moo trial saw 128 punters take part in the testing, with 85 samples tested and of that, 50% was found to be pure MDMA, while two samples were deadly. 

To find out more about the fundraiser or to donate, head here.