The CanTEST Health and Drug Checking Service will extend its opening hours in the lead-up to the Spilt Milk music festival on Saturday 26 November.
It will be open on Thursday 24 November from 10am to 4pm and on Friday 25 November from 3pm to 9pm.
CanTEST is a free and confidential drug checking service operated by Directions Health Service. Since opening on 21 July, it has tested nearly 300 samples.
It is on the ground floor, City Community Health Centre, 1 Moore Street, Canberra.
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“We’re really pleased to be able to offer extended hours in the days leading up to the Spilt Milk Festival so festival goers are better informed on how they can reduce any potential harms they may experience,” Bronwyn Hendry, Directions Health Service’s CEO, said.
“Around 5,000 people are expected to attend Spilt Milk, so we are anticipating an increase in people seeking CanTEST services, both Canberrans attending and other people coming into the ACT for the festival.
“We want to get as many people through as possible, and urge Canberrans not to leave it to the last minute. There is likely to be strong demand for testing on the Friday evening before the festival, so it would be really helpful if Canberrans and others can plan ahead, and if possible, have the drugs they are considering consuming tested at CanTEST either this evening or on Thursday next week.”
ACT health minister Rachel Stephen-Smith said the ACT Government had worked with Directions Health Service, Pill Testing Australia, and the Canberra Alliance for Harm Minimisation and Advocacy to ensure festival goers can test pills to reduce harm from illicit drug use, Ms Stephen-Smith said.
Despite these organisations’ best efforts, a festival-based service was not able to be established for Spilt Milk.
“Extending the hours of the free and confidential service at CanTEST will enable more people to access the service, potentially saving a young person’s life,” Ms Stephen-Smith said.
“The ACT Government does not condone the use of illicit drugs. The safest option remains not to take drugs, and this will always be our advice to the community. However, we know from experience around the world and right here in the ACT that people will use illicit substances at music festivals.”
The ACT Government will work with Pill Testing Australia and music festival organisers about future festival-based services.
Gino Vumbaca OAM, president of Harm Reduction Australia, said festival organisers and attendees want pill testing in order to protect young people. “While we continue to work through the challenges … it is so important that the ACT Government has carefully considered all the evidence, and established the nation’s first fixed site pill testing site, as it enables us to reduce some of the harm for those consuming drugs at festivals.”
