Wellington, November 23, : , The New Zealand Health Minister Andrew Little said Tuesday that drug-checking services would continue legally operating at festivals, pop up clinics, universities orientation, and other locations this summer after a law passed earlier in the morning. According to Xinhua, the services were legalized since last summer by temporary legislation which expires next month.
No.2) passed third reading.It will be in effect December 7.This means that services can continue as needed, Little stated.
He stated that “this legislation is about keeping everyone safe.” He also said that current drug-checking systems have caught and interrogated potentially dangerous substances in the local community.
Little stated that evidence shows that people will often refuse to use substances if they aren’t told what they really are.This could potentially save lives.
The Ministry of Health commissioned research by Victoria University in Wellington.It found that 68% of festival-goers who had used drug-checking service said they changed after seeing the results.
Three new drug-checking service providers have been approved by the government.
Along with KnowYourStuffNZ, the New Zealand Drug Foundation and NZ Needle Exchange Program will collaborate.
Little stated that the government will also contribute NZ$800,000.
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