“One of the biggest misconceptions around pill-testing is that it will portray taking drugs as safe,” Dr Bright told news.com.au.

“Harm reduction workers always say there is no safe level of drug consumption.

“We know there’s concern that pill-testing sites will endorse drug use,” said Dr Bright. “Young people know using drugs is risky. We have research that demonstrates this. We also have research that shows young people are trying to find out what’s in their pills.
“When you walk into a festival and you see there’s a pill-testing service with information about different kinds of drugs on the market, it makes the risk real — it turns the perception of risk into real risk.”

Studies have found Australians are among the world’s leading consumers of ecstasy, with a 2016 AIHW report finding that 2.1 million — or 10.9 per cent — of Australians aged 14 and over have used the drug at least once.
Ms Berejiklian argued pill-testing doesn’t help when it comes to overdosing on pure MDMA, and that it gives young people a “false sense of security” if their capsule or tablet is found to be free of other substances.

At Canberra’s Groovin’ The Moo festival last April, for example, where pill-testing was first trialled in Australia, harm reduction workers identified several pills and capsules with potent levels of MDMA.

[cont]

David Caldicott, an emergency doctor who led the Canberra trial, said users were never assured it’s okay to take illicit substances.
“When a person first enters the pill testing area, they are met by a ’harm reduction worker’. This person explains the pill testing process and advises the patron that there is no safe level of drug consumption,” Mr Caldicott told the ABC.
“You will not be told at any stage that your drug is safe.”
Dr Bright said a truly successful approach to pill-testing requires a collaborative effort from everybody involved — the festival organisers, the state government, police, event co-ordinators and harm reduction services.
“To have pill-testing out on its own is not the best idea — it needs to be linked to paramedical services,” he said.
Achieving this could most effectively minimise the risk of tragedies like that of Ms Ross-King.
Dr Bright also set up a covert pill-testing station at a Victorian music festival in 2017. He said most people disposed of their drugs after tests determined they were potentially harmful.
“We also identified some other drugs like 2CE and 2CP,” he said. “And people responded saying they were really grateful to have that information, saying they’d only take half.
“Success isn’t solely in discarding the drugs. It’s also having people understand what they might be in for.”

“When a person first enters the pill testing area, they are met by a ’harm reduction worker’. This person explains the pill testing process and advises the patron that there is no safe level of drug consumption,”

This sounds as if pill testing is already available. Or, the doctor hasn't heard of the 'tense' rules in grammar. Does he mean that's what 'would' happen if there was pill testing. In that case, he can't predict what anyone would actually do.

Which brings up the question, how can we even know if drug users would use the service? Would people stupid enough to use drugs have the desire or the wit to take the chance that their 'high' would be taken from them - if it would be taken from them?

No medical aid for drug overdose..
Test positive for illicit substances & there goes your job & unemployment benefit.
Problem will solve itself in no time. No taxpayer funding required, give to genuine needy instead.
And, if we vote in a third party in the upcoming election to keep the Govt in check to properly manage the economy even the needy will dwindle in numbers. All good all round. Anyone have a problem with no problems ?

Amid continuing hysterical calls by the chattering class for pill testing, an expert this morning advised ABC News Radio that drug testing takes several days, and the pissy 'testing' the condoners of drug use want is not accurate.

//drug testing takes several days//

Using what technique?