High-Strength Ketamine, Cocaine And MDMA Found At Midlands Festival

Monday, 29 May 2023 12:46

They were tested at an on-site laboratory

High strength Ketamine, cocaine and MDMA were among the drugs surrendered at a midlands festival over the weekend.

The HSE warned those attending Life Festival in Mullingar about the high-strength drugs, which were tested in an on-site laboratory.

The cocaine caused aggression with mental and physical health problems, according to the Health Service.

They were handed in to 'Drug Surrender Bins,' which will be in place at a number of festivals this year, following its success at Electric Picnic last year.

The HSE is advising festival goers it's always safer not to use drugs, but if you do, start very low, go slow and avoid mixing.

In a statement to Midlands 103, the HSE says:

The HSE #SaferNightlife harm reduction campaign was present at Life Festival this weekend. The trained HSE volunteers successfully engaged with people at the event and built up trust, and this outreach approach provided harm reduction advice and health updates in relation to substances circulating. The Drug Checking component of the service linked with the festival attendees and worked closely with medical service providers onsite. A wide range and variety of different substances were surrendered to the bins provided over the course of the weekend.

The HSE issued 3 risk communications via Drugs.ie on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook social media channels about certain drugs that were submitted to the surrender bins at the event. These were in relation to high strength Ketamine, a high strength MDMA tablet and high strength Cocaine. The health risks associated with these substances were communicated in the alerts and by the HSE volunteers providing outreach. As another example of health promotion, the HSE supplied over 1,000 water bottles over the course of the weekend to encourage people to remain hydrated, especially during the hot weather.

The HSE would like to thank the Festival Promoters of Life Festival for their support and engagement over the weekend. This ensured a health and safety approach for attendees at the event. A more comprehensive report will be available shortly following consultation with the relevant stakeholders.

HSE concern over cocaine circulating at @LifeFestival. Higher strength cocaine causing aggression with mental and physical health problems.

It's always safer not to use. Remember HSE advice, start very low, go slow and avoid mixing. pic.twitter.com/RmLb0gawpv
— HSE Drugs.ie (@drugsdotie) May 28, 2023