Last year we made history when more than 311,000 of us sent a powerful message to the big end of town, about the sort of place we wanted Sydney and NSW to be. Now, it seems we need to send another message to NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian - this time about pill testing.
I have two wonderful kids. One day when they're a bit older, they'll be at a party or a festival. One day, a trusted friend of theirs might hand them something.
I'm hoping they won't. I'm hoping they'll say no thanks. But I'm also raising them to think for themselves, like many of us. If and when that day comes, and they make another choice, what happens next? Will they be able to test it legally? Or will they risk it?
It's simple. The sooner we start normalising pill testing, the sooner we start saving lives. The sooner we start giving all of our kids a couple of extra minutes to think it over; and a couple of extra bits of information on what they're about to take, then the sooner we start making a sizeable dent in the problem This is a no brainer.
That's why I'm inviting you all to read Adriana's story and sign her petition. She lived through the unimaginable when she lost her son to a drug overdose at a music festival. Now, she's fighting for pill testing so other parents don't have to live through what she has endured. As a dad, I'm really glad she's doing this.
Just like the Opera House petition, I reckon this is a chance to show the NSW Government just how wrong they've got this. They underestimated us then, I hope they don't make the same mistake this time - young people's lives are at stake.
Cheers,
Mike