Pill testing will not save lives because it cannot tell users how strong their drugs are, former cop claims A former Drug Squad boss has slammed pill testing, saying it cannot save lives Nick Bingham told Police Tape arguments to support pill testing missed the point He said pill testing is ineffective because it only tests for additives and not dosesBy Mark Brook For Daily Mail Australia Published: 15:20 BST, 20 April 2019 | Updated: 15:20 BST, 20 April 2019 Viewcomments Pill testing cannot save lives because it doesn't tell users how strong their drugs are, according to a former police drug squad boss. Former Superintendent Nick Bingham told the Police Tape podcast any argument to support pill testing at live events misses the point. He said pill testing at festivals is essentially ineffective because it only tests for additives as opposed to analysing the dose levels of a specific chemical in a pill. Former Superintendent Nick Bingham (pictured) this week told the Police Tape podcast any argument to support pill testing at live events missed the point Mr Bingham said pill testing at festivals is essentially ineffective because it only tests for additives opposed to analysing the dose levels of a specific chemical in a pill 'It doesn't matter what they identify within that ecstasy pill or ecstasy capsule, it's the ecstasy that's going to hurt you, more so than whatever else they put in it,' Mr Bingham said. The test's inability to determine concentration is also mentioned on the Parliament of Australia website, which states high doses are often fatal by themselves. 'On-site pill testing kits are severely limited in what they detect, with test kits unlikely to detect contaminants or other toxic compounds in pills,' the website states. The pill testing technology is allegedly also ineffective at detecting new drugs on the market, such as NBOMe - or N-Bomb - which was linked to three deaths in in 2017. But as the website states, arguments for and against pill testing are typically led by broader debates on the merits of harm minimisation versus zero tolerance to drugs. Mr Bingham said it shouldn't be a question of whether to set up stalls at festivals, but rather how to enforce the message drug taking is like playing 'Russian roulette'. He said five deaths from suspected overdoses at music festivals within the last five months was too many - with four alleged to be directly linked to drug purity. According to pro-pill testing advocate Dr Alex Wodak, pill testing can be effective because it eradicates impurities and reduces risks associated with overdose. Mr Bingham said five deaths from suspected overdoses at music festivals within the last five months was too many - with four alleged to be directly linked to drug purity Speaking to https://twitter.com/TheTodayShow/status/1090359703215865856 in January, Dr Wodak, said Australians need to have a conversation about how drugs should be regulated - which includes pill testing. Dr Wodak said very often drug consumption is reduced when the environment that surround it is less punitive or viewed as a punishment and restrictive. But Mr Bingham this week argued the initiative does nothing to discourage people from taking illicit drugs. He said said young people underestimate the dangers of illicit drug use, so the message he wants to get out is that there is no such thing as a safe drug. 'I get angry because these people are smart people, but they're running the risk - it's like Russian roulette - of death or serious injury,' he said. According to pro-pill testing advocate Dr Alex Wodak (pictured), pill testing can be effective because it eradicates impurities and reduces risks associated with overdose Mr Bingham said it shouldn't be a question of whether to set up stalls at festivals, but rather how to enforce the message drug taking is like playing 'Russian roulette' Read more: Share or comment on this article: All rights reserved for this news site dailymail and under his responsibility