A DRUG CHECKING programme operated by the HSE is returning to Electric Picnic this year after screening last year discovered high-strength MDMA pills in circulation that were causing medical emergencies.

The programme, which will be operating at the festival this weekend for a fourth time, has identified particularly dangerous iterations of controlled substances and put out warnings to attendees in past years.

Festival-goers who intend to use drugs can visit testing sites operated by the HSE where they can surrender samples for analysis.

Gardaí have not operated an amnesty system in relation to the programme at the festival, having said previously that normal legislation and enforcement applies to anyone found in possession of drugs.

The HSE programme has allowed analysts to form a picture of the type and strength of drugs in circulation at the festival and to provide warnings to attendees if particularly dangerous substances are detected.

Last year, high-strength MDMA pills were discovered which were “causing medical emergencies, including fits”. 

In 2022, it found drugs at the festival that had not been detected in Ireland before.

“The drug market is constantly evolving, and new and more dangerous substances are constantly emerging,” said Minister for Public Health Jennifer Murnane O’Connor in a statement today.

“The HSE’s back of house drug testing initiative is very beneficial in identifying drugs that are in circulation and responding to the dangers they present,” she said.

“I want to remind people that the safest option is to avoid illicit drugs. However, for those who choose otherwise, please do not hesitate to seek help from the HSE services that offer non-judgemental support and help to those who may need it.”

HSE Emerging Drug Trends Project Manager Nicki Killeen said that “without this project, we would have no Irish data on MDMA purity, which has been increasing year on year since we began”.

“These results help us identify trends and tailor how we deliver harm reduction to people at events,” she said.

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Killeen outlined that people submit samples to the HSE for a “range of reasons”.

“Often people will come before they use to ensure that there is no risky adulterants in circulation. We can then help that person and others who may have the same drug,” she said.

“Over the last four years of this project, we have issued alerts on high-strength MDMA linked to medical emergencies, 3-CMC being sold as cocaine without people knowing, and cases of 100% pure cocaine – which is very rare but can lead to extreme medical situations or fatalities.

“These alerts were only possible because of people submitting samples to help the wider community. We are observing new psychoactive substances appear in the UK and throughout Europe and are very interested to identify if these trends are currently occurring in Ireland.

We would encourage people to chat with our teams and consider submitting a small amount of substances for analysis.”

HSE Drugs.ie teams will be available in the Jimi Hendrix campsite and the Electric Arena on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Teams will be wearing purple and pink high-vis vests and can answer questions. If you or someone else feels unwell after taking drugs, seek medical attention immediately. More information can be read here.