New Zealand legalises recreational drug testing

New Zealand passed a bill on 23rd November allowing for the expansion of services via a pilot programme allowing the testing of recreational drugs at festivals.

They are the first country to fully legalise the testing of recreational substances and aid government recommended advisory boards.

The passing of the bill will enable users to test their substances safely, knowing that they will not face punishment or repercussions.

The new law came into effect on 6th December. The originating pilot programme was approved back in December 2020 and was due to expire in December 2021.

The Ministry of Health suggested the pilot was made permanent in April 2021, which then led to the creation of the new laws.

This was a result of data published in a report from February 2021, whereby 68% of the pilot participants said they had adjusted their behaviours and approach towards drugs as a result of using the service. Also, 87% said they gained a better understanding of the dangers of drug use.

Sarah Helm, Executive Director at the NZ Drug Foundation, told VICE World News:

“This will prevent harm and save lives. Drug checking is a hugely effective harm reduction tool as it gives people accurate information to make safer decisions. We’d now like to see services expand to reach more people.”

The new bill will help establish better legal safeguards for both those who are providing the services and the users. While it is made clear this does not make drug possession, purchase or sale legal.

UK Drug researchers are keen to see the UK government adopt a similar approach, with Katya Kowalski, Head of Strategy at Volteface, telling Mixmag:

“Drug checking is a necessary and life-saving policy. Much of the harm and tragedy from festival drug deaths is avoidable.”

“Allowing individuals to test for the purity and strength empowers them to make an informed, safer decision about drug use.”

“The UK should follow New Zealand’s pragmatic approach to protect people who use drugs, taking an evidence-based approach to avoid further tragedy. If the UK is serious about reducing drug-related harm, legalising drug-checking should be a top priority.”

This means although we see drug testing take place at events and festivals across the UK, there are legal loopholes. The likes of The Loop, known for testing substances at these events and festivals, work alongside the police which means there is no guarantee of safety testing your substances without repercussions or legal consequences.