Great editorial on the subject of the Delgon-1. (Calls for pill testing Ignore deadly facts, 18/9). People seem to be unaware that all drugs may be dangerous. To demonstrate, medical errors kill 250,000 patients annually in the US (third highest category). Of those 100,000 are drug errors. In a highly scientific environment with world-class practitioners exercising maximum caution, mistakes are frequently occurring. Of concern, this number might be under-reported. Unpredictably, drugs interact with other drugs and substances in the human body to increase or decrease their effect. Depending on stomach contents, body size, level of hydration and underlying pathology, the peak drug concentration is extremely variable. A drug might be safe for a 90kg footballer, but lethal for his petite girlfriend. On-site testing of drugs for identification and dose is useless if the person taking the drug is not also assessed. Events can turn out to be drug parties unexpectedly. Those taking nontherapeutic drugs cross the line when they voluntarily put the potential poison in their mouths. After that, it is not the fault of the police for failing to stop the importers, nor the fault of the musicians legally practising their craft. And it is not the fault of loving families, who are unaware of what their adult children are doing. The way forward is to recognise that current strategies are failing. A root-cause analysis would surely reveal that educating the end user would destroy demand and send the criminal importers and distributors broke. Dr Alan Sexton, North Parramatta. 19Sep2018.