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Johnboy Davidson: Just that: education. Harm reduction is a major part of drug policy in most developed nations, but very few have the political will to actually do it. Pill Reports exists to help users help themselves and others. We are the warning system that attempts to head off these sorts of incidents before they happen. You don't read the stories about all the bad pills we identify and discourage people from using because, thankfully, we can sometimes intercede before people die. And this is what we achieve with no funding and a volunteer effort. Imagine what could be done if a government tried to do the same.
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Ever since there have been pills with logos, there's been copycatting. But that's branding for you. From Sony TVs to Gucci bags on the street corner, it's the same old game. This has always been the case – only testing will let you know what's in a pill. Everything else is just rumour and hearsay.Do you think that public-funded testing centres could potentially save lives?
Yes. Undoubtedly. Go look at the rates of death in countries like the Netherlands and you'll see that it's far lower than other countries that don't allow testing. You know what's also lower in the Netherlands? Rates of usage of drugs. Drug testing does not encourage drug use. In fact, it discourages it. Study after study shows this. But politicians would rather let people die, as an example to others, than make the simplest effort to save lives.Thanks, Johnboy.Follow Matthew on Twitter: @matthewfranceyMore stories about about drugs:Valium Is Killing Scotland's Drug-Taking PoorSomeone Put Anthrax in my HeroinWATCH - Sisa: Cocaine of the Poor