HSE's Electric Picnic onsite drug testing plans announced for the Laois festival

Drug surrender bins and onsite testing will be carried out by the HSE at Electric Picnic 2024. 

The HSE Safer Nightlife Harm Reduction Programme aims to provide drug harm reduction services to drug users at Electric Picnic 2024. 

Festival-goers can seek information and support around the issue of drug use and surrender drugs for ‘back of house’ on-site drug checking.

Two Drugs.ie tents are open Friday through Sunday between 11am and 9pm, providing 30 hours of harm reduction support onsite delivered by trained volunteers. A further two surrender bins are located at onsite medical spaces where people can deposit drugs for analysis.

Laois Offaly Garda Superintendent Eamon Curley said gardaí supported the HSE's harm reduction initiative and will not be monitoring the tents or surrender bins.  However, he said the role of gardaí is the detection of drugs and the prevention of the sale or supply of illegal drugs and they will be policing the festival.

Supt Curley reminded festival goers that drugs are illegal because they are dangerous and cause harm and death to users. He advised people not to bring drugs into the festival or to use drugs at the event and his message to anyone who is caught was:  "You will face prosecution."

He urged anyone who becomes unwell, or sees anyone else who is unwell at the festival to seek assistance immediately. 

Supt Curely said there will be onsite testing at the event and warnings will be issued if very dangerous substances are detected. "We are alert to any potentially dangerous drugs," he said.   

Minister for Public Health, Wellbeing and the National Drug Strategy Colm Burke said the harm reduction measures are important.

“While it is always safer not use drugs, it is important from a public health perspective that we reduce the risks for those who chose to do so. We know that ongoing changes in the drug market present additional risks,” he said. 

“I encourage anyone who is considering using drugs at Electric Picnic and other festivals to engage with the HSE Safer Nightlife Programme and the volunteers who are there to provide assistance. I strongly believe that we need to deal with drug use as a public health issue and give my full support to this targeted harm reduction initiative, which is now in its third year,” he added. 

Speaking at Electric Picnic, HSE National Clinical Lead, Addiction Services, Prof Eamon Keenan said: “Following very recent drug market changes, drug monitoring has become established as an important tool to help reduce harms among people who use drugs. We recently saw the value of this approach following the emergence of potent synthetic opioids and how, through back of house analysis, we could detect and rapidly respond to an emerging drug threat. This was the first time in Ireland that we could act in such a manner.

“Similarly, this service can help us detect dangerous substances at events, the public can help by surrendering drugs at our specific harm reduction settings. Back of house analysis offers us a unique opportunity to obtain and analyse substances for public health purposes. We collaborate with An Garda Síochána and festival organisers to ensure that a safe space is provided for people who use drugs at events to surrender drugs.

“Our core message is that it is safer not to use drugs at all. There is always personal risk for people who do use drugs, we would urge festival-goers to come talk to our teams onsite at this year’s Electric Picnic if they are contemplating the use of drugs. This helps ensure they can be fully informed on the risks involved and harm reduction measures.

Speaking about drug trends of concern, HSE Emerging Drug Trends Project Manager, Nicki Killeen said: “The current drug market is more dangerous than ever before. MDMA pills, powders and crystals are more potent, making it easier to take too much without knowing, which can lead to drug emergencies. We are aware of a number of MDMA deaths occurring each year and we expect this number may increase.

“Thanks to the public providing the HSE with drug samples to analyse, we have captured important Irish data to inform our emerging trends work. We are aware that MDMA now ranges between 140mg – 240mg of MDMA. In general, MDMA over 125mg is considered higher risk of causing an MDMA emergency. This means that taking one pill or small volumes of powder could be extremely risky.

“Another concerning trend is that powders are being added to drinks, which we expect to become more common. Ketamine use has greatly increased and many people not aware of its short and long term effects. We encourage anyone who chooses to use to read our harm reduction information on www.drugs.ie/festivals  in advance and to talk with our teams throughout the weekend so we can help you minimise harms and stay up to date about the results of our drug analysis each day on our social media channels.

“Remember, the HSE drugs.ie tents and medical tents are safe spaces to surrender drugs, and not monitored by An Garda Síochána. By submitting one pill or a small sample of powder, you’re helping the HSE review the current drug market, something that isn’t normally done throughout the year. The more samples you submit, the better we can understand the national market - your contribution will not only help keep you safe but others too.”

The HSE drugs.ie teams can be found in the Main Arena and in the Jimi Hendrix Campsite on Friday, Saturday and Sunday 11am to 9pm. Teams will be visible in purple and pink high vis vests and can answer queries on how the programme will operate.

Updates will be shared on X (Twitter) and Instagram @drugsdotie