The HSE has issued an urgent warning for festivalgoers at this year’s Electric Picnic festival after a batch of high-strength MDMA tablets were found.
Up to 75,000 revellers have descended on Ireland’s largest festival this weekend to catch American chart-topper Noah Kahan, Scottish icon Gerry Cinnamon, World-famous DJ Calvin Harris, superstar Kylie Minogue and more.
Alongside the world-class acts, the HSE has been providing drug harm reduction services at the festival over the weekend, including ‘back of house’ on-site drug checking for revellers.
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The HSE teams have been set up in the Main Arena and in the Jimi Hendrix Campsite wearing purple and pink high-vis vests ready to answer queries and test any drugs that attendees may want checked.
The checking works by punters surrendering drugs in bins so the HSE can conduct analysis and warn the festival and festival goers if extra risky drugs are in circulation. On Friday evening, the HSE warned that a batch of ‘high strength’ MDMA had been detected at the festival via testing that had been causing medical emergencies, including fits.
In a warning issued via social media, the HSE said; "High-strength MDMA pills are in circulation at the Electric Picnic Festival. These are causing medical emergencies, including fits. It’s safer not to use drugs at all but if you do 'Start Low and Go Slow' - mind yourself and care for others.."
Meanwhile, on Sunday Kylie Minogue, Raye, Tom Grennan, The Wolfe Tones, David Kushner, The Stranglers, Peggy Gou, Damien Dempsey, CMAT, Teddy Swims, Dean Lewis, Bambie Thug, Soft Launch, The Psychs and much more acts are all taking to the stage.
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