Tasmania is not immune to drug-related issues.  Social drug use can lead to addiction. Much like drinking alcohol  or placing $20 in the pokies can lead to addictions.

All illegal drug use is life-threatening and there is no safe level of use of drugs. But abstinence or the knowledge that drugs can kill isn’t working.

Much like sex education or safe driving, saying no or placing a limit doesn’t eliminate the risk. The people dying are young. Their risky behaviour is greater at this time of their lives. 

Both the Royal Australasian College of Physicians and the Australian Medical Association have released statements supporting pill testing. 

The RACP highlighted the need for pill testing to be a health issue, not a police issue. In Tasmania, the crackdown on organised motorcycle gangs is because of crime directly related to or because of drugs. 

In October, the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission released the fifth report of the National Wastewater Drug Monitoring Program, revealing Tasmania reported the highest average capital city consumption of MDA (pill form of MDMA).

Use of cocaine and MDMA had decreased and heroin consumption had increased in capital city sites but decreased in regional areas. The report also showed nicotine and alcohol, unsurprisingly, were the highest consumed substances – a health issue.

There are syringe boxes in public toilets, safe rooms for drug users and UV lights used in bathrooms.  All are harm minimisation initiatives in communities, including Launceston.

To borrow words from Nelson Mandela, education is the most powerful weapon.  Education and information can be a great weapon to reduce harm in relation to drugs.

We just need to be willing to have these conversations with expert advice, without hysteria and with a health perspective applied, not just policing.