Geelong: We Tested Your MDMA

_This article is part of the VICE MDMA Census. See the results for cities all around Australia here.  _For a glossary of the different chemicals we identified, read this.

Powerful MDMA caps have hit the Geelong drug market recently, sparking police fears… that is, according to the Geelong Advertiser. Chatting to locals in the Victorian port city paints a different picture of the MDMA floating around. "Pretty much all of the supply comes direct form Melbourne," said one bloke I can't name at a pub I won't name. Asking around, this seemed to be the consensus—the good shit travels the brisk 75 kilometres from Melbourne and lands squarely in the hands of those looking for a fun time in a city that can otherwise seem devoid of things to do.

But still I was curious about this "super potent MDMA." According to my good pal Wikipedia, Geelong has a population of 187,417. That's 187,417 people potentially holding super potent MDMA, or just your standard pills from Melbourne, depending on who you believe. I headed to some backyard "gatherings" to meet some of these Geelongians and test their drugs. These are their stories.

VICE: Hey John. Two questions: where did you get your drugs and do you trust your dealer?
John: One of them I do, the other is a bit sketchy. I trust the MD but not the pill.

Why is that?
The MD is from a trustworthy supplier, it's good shit from the Netherlands, and the other one was just given to me by a friend of a friend to try just to see if I wanted to buy more, but I don't have high hopes for it. The MD I've had before and I've even tested it myself and result came back good that's why I stick to that person.

You're pretty confident with the quality of the MD then, but what do you think the results of the test will be for the pill?
It might come up purple, I think it does have high traces of MDMA, then again it might not. But I know that from looking at it it's going to have harsh side effects so the next day you're going to feel like absolute shit—it's gonna have a hell of a comedown, as for the MD it won't because it is a lot cleaner.

MD on the left, pill on the right

Are you surprised by the results?
Yeah from the pill I am, it actually came back pretty purple.

How do you feel now about taking both drugs?
I'd feel confident about the MD, still wouldn't feel confident about the pill, just for the fact that I don't really eat pills doesn't matter what they are.

Why is that?
I just don't trust pills. Never have. Doesn't matter whether it's an import or whether it's not, still don't know what's in it. I mean you get a pill and you weigh it yeah and it's got 200mg of MDMA in it, but the pill weighs 400mg—you don't know what the rest of that 400mg is. It's binders, it's speed, it's MDA, it's MDAX—you don't know. And we still won't know, this pill test will only show you what the dominant drug is. It is usually MDMA, but you still don't know, which is why I've never trusted 'em. MD is a lot cleaner, a lot safer.

Do you think Australia should legalise pill testing at festivals and other events?
Yeah definitely. Politicians are scared to do it though just for the fact that they'll look like the bad guys if something goes wrong or they'll look like they're encouraging it which they're not.

VICE: Where did you get this pill?
Rhys: I got a whole bunch off my mate, I don't know where he gets them from though.

What do you think the results might be?
It might be cut with Panadol or something, you're never going to get 100 percent pure, I know people who have had these before and they're fine so even if it's cut with something it won't be harmful.

Are you surprised by the results?
Nah I didn't think it would come back pure ecstasy. Looks like it's leaning towards 2CB, still fun.

How do you now feel about taking the drug?
It hasn't really changed anything.

Do you think Australia should legalise pill testing at music festivals?
Screw that just legalise all drugs. It's a win-win for the government really, 'cause if they legalise drugs and then they're selling them it means they can then control the product and they're making money and there wont be anything dangerous going around.

Why do you think politicians are so averse to trialling it?
It's a matter of opening their minds. I feel like if everyone took acid we'd be so much more peaceful.

VICE: Where do you get your drugs and do you trust your dealer?
Jemima: Yeah I trust my dealer, I just met her out one night in the smokers' area but I've always only ever got safe things from her, well I mean I don't know that because pill testing isn't legal but I've always been fine, I've never had any bad side effects.

What do you think the results might be?
I have high hopes for this.

Are you surprised by the results?
It's pretty purple right? Not really surprised, I know it's good stuff.

How do you feel about drugs on an ethical and moral level?
I mean I really like taking drugs. I really do. It's your own choice, like no one is forcing them down your throat and, unless you're endangering other people, then it's not hurting anyone else.

Do you think pill testing should be legal?
Yeah I think there's definitely some positives to it, at least then people know what they're ingesting and if there's bad things going around like what happened on Chapel a few weeks ago, at least then people will find out before people die.

Why do you think the Australian government is hesitant to introduce pill testing?
Because they don't wanna be seen to be encouraging it. It's like, the Australian government is just dumb though they're not even like legalising gay marriage for no particular reason. There's no way Australia will legalise drug testing, there's no way its gonna happen.

VICE: Where do you get your drugs and do you trust your dealer?
Rebecca: He's a bit of a sketchy cunt, but in terms of drugs yeah.

What do you think the results might be?
I've never had this batch before so I'm hoping he' not stooged me.

Are you surprised by the results?
A little bit, green is not exactly MD now is it? I actually might just take this test back to my dealer. Can I keep the vial?

Yeah sure. Do you think you're you still going to take it?
I'd be lying if I said I wasn't going to try a little bit.

What do you reckon about pill testing services—do you think Australia should legalise them at music festivals?
Yes, I think it'll make people more accountable for the shit that they sell to people. I know a lot of people who have gone to clubs and bought something off some random. They go to take it in the bathroom, only to find out its either talcum powder or nothing like what they asked. When they go to find the person who sold it to them, that person is no longer there. Even if they do find them there's not much you can do about it. And a lot of people wouldn't even approach the person afterwards.

Why do you think politicians are so averse to trialling pill testing?
The whole morality of this country is still based on Christian beliefs, so abstaining from things like that is the go. They think they're encouraging people to do things if you make it safer for them. But yeah, these people are old, they're going to die one day, other people will come through and it will change. We're kind of in that moment where things are changing, but it's just a slow climb of the ladder to get there.

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Disclaimer: We aren't scientists. We ran a handful of tests, in a handful of cities, over the course of a few nights. These kits aren't going to identify the presence of some non-testable poison. Plus, there's no guarantee you have the same MD—drugs differ from place to place, night to night. But you already knew that.

Note: These articles were made possible by EZ Test who donated all testing kits free of charge.