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Australia's first pill-testing trial at Groovin the Moo Canberra has begun, with some festivalgoers saying they are glad the service is available and they plan to visit the stall.
Advocates for pill testing are under a media ban and unable to comment on the trial while it is underway, but the dozens of attendees the ABC approached all said they supported the trial.
"It's definitely necessary in this day and age, because people are gonna take it, they need to know what they're taking is safe, and they then have that decision whether they want to take it or not," one man said.
"It won't make a difference of who's doing it, it just makes a difference of whether people are gonna die off it," said another attendee.
"If I was gonna take a pill, yeah I'd probably test it," another said.
Attendees were notified of the trial on Thursday, when GTM organiser Cattleyard Promotions agreed to allow the testing trial on its site.
Festivalgoers will be able to visit a tent to have their pills tested and given information about the substances the pill contains.
An amnesty bin will be available if they choose to dispose of the drugs rather than take them.
Police have vowed not to target the pill testing tent, but will be on site throughout the event.
Pill testing is implemented in more than 20 countries as a harm-reduction measure.
Topics: drugs-and-substance-abuse, community-and-society, carnivals-and-festivals, events, arts-and-entertainment, university-of-canberra-2617, act, australia, canberra-2600
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