Victoria Launches First Pill-Testing Trial at Music Festival

The Beyond The Valley festival hosts a groundbreaking harm-reduction initiative aimed at improving drug safety and reducing overdoses.

Victoria's first pill-testing service debuted at the Beyond The Valley festival, testing over 300 drug samples in its first two days.
The service allows festivalgoers to anonymously verify the contents of their drugs, identifying substances like ketamine and benzodiazepines mislabeled as other drugs.
Health workers provide harm-reduction advice, including dosage guidelines and the risks of mixing substances, though drug use remains a personal choice post-testing.
The initiative follows recent Victorian legislation supporting pill testing and aims to reduce overdoses and improve drug market transparency.
A reported overdose on the festival's first day highlights ongoing risks, though it's unclear if the individual used the testing service.