“Bad” batches of drugs are a big problem in Australia right now, with the tainted substances being sold proving much more dangerous than the regular illicit drugs people are intending to buy, and Victoria Police have just proposed another harm-reduction measure.
As reported by The Herald Sun, the plan would send alert messages to not only the owners of various bars and nightclubs, but also the patrons, warning of toxic batches of common recreational drugs like MDMA. Working similarly to the state’s bushfire alert system, the alerts would draw on location data or Facebook check-ins to decide who should be alerted and when.
“Victoria Police has strong concerns about drug use and drug overdoses across the state, including any drug activity in the Stonnington and Port Phillip areas,” says Victoria Police spokesman Thomas O’Byrne.
“Police remain happy to assist, where possible, efforts by the relevant health authorities and stakeholders to improve health messaging systems,” he continues. “Victoria Police remains engaged with a range of stakeholders to progress a collaborative approach to harm prevention from drugs and alcohol.”
Whether or not people would take heed of these messages is questionable, and many still point to the idea of people being able to test the substances they intend to take at music events as a more effective solution than more general warnings like these.
On the other hand, these new measures are certainly less aggressive than the invasive new powers Victorian police may soon receive to search attendees at music events for drugs with no cause.
