We lost two young lives through untested ecstasy use at a festival in Sydney a few weeks ago. What an unnecessary loss, especially when we remember that free drug testing for the participants (free of costs for the government and festival organisers) was offered years ago, and Gladys Berejiklian refused it. What a dreadful decision that was and now the new Labor government in NSW is following the same policy again.
It’s just the beginning of the festival season and we are expecting a hotter than usual summer this year, which will impact on the hydration levels of festivalgoers. While in the ACT we have seen the successful use of drug testing, NSW drug policies are stuck in the old way of thinking, the war against drugs.
Maybe it’s important to mention that alcohol is the worst drug being used in our society with the biggest health and financial costs to our society. It is a huge money maker for the government. I’m begging the NSW government to allow free drug testing at festivals immediately to save the lives of our young innocent festival attendants.
The time is now and not after a drug summit sometime next year.
For four decades The Echo has printed the stories some people loved, some people hated, and some pretended not to read. If you want us to keep telling the truth, the real truth, not the sugar-coated version. We’ll need your support to keep the presses rolling. 
