Electric Picnic is fast approaching and attendees have been advised by the HSE to look after their “festival health”.
The HSE harm reduction initiative will be in Stradbally from Friday, August 29th to Sunday, August 31st keeping festival-goers safe and healthy.
Back-of-house drug testing can be carried out on attendees who have been brought to the medical tent and on drugs given up to the “surrender bins”.
Chief executive and founder of Psych Care, Mick Ledden, spoke about some of the issues first-time EP goers may encounter if taking drugs.
Issues with the weather, mental health struggles and fights with friends are all common substance-induced issues, breakingnews.ie reported.
"Don't take anything that somebody just offers you,” Ledden warns. “Just be really clear on what your boundaries are."
The HSE’s harm reduction initiative is part of the Safer Nightlife Programme and aims to reduce the harm caused by recreational drug use at festivals.
The initiative allows for drug testing to be done on sight and will educate and alert festival-goers on dangerous substances.
Late last month the HSE announced that the harm reduction initiative would only be present at two Irish festivals – Electric Picnic and DX – instead of the four festivals it was at last year.
In a statement, the HSE said the programme cannot be expanded in its “current format” and that it was due for a review in 2026, which will determine the “next phase”.
The HSE expects the next National Drugs Strategy, due later this year, will have “clear recommendations” for how the initiative could improve and appeal more to young Irish people.
