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GARDAÍ HAVE WARNED that “no amnesty” will be given to those who are in possession of controlled drugs at Electric Picnic this year, despite the HSE announcing that drug ‘surrender bins’ will be in operation at again.
The bins will allow festival-goers to surrender their drugs and receive drug support from members of the HSE, as part of their harm reduction scheme.
In a statement to The Journal gardaí confirmed that no amnesty will be given to those found in possession of drugs and that normal legislation and garda enforcement plans will apply.
The scheme, which was piloted at last year’s music festival, will then conduct analysis in their dedicated ‘back of house’ HSE National Drug Treatment Centre lab, on site, after the drugs are disposed in the bin.
The HSE hoped last year that provide it with vital information that the service otherwise would not have been able to access in real-time before. There was also growing concern about the emergence of new psychoactive substances.
A spokesperson for An Garda Síochána said the force will once again work closely with the HSE over the course of the weekend to “ensure that the harm reduction initiative can be in operation at the Electric Picnic Festival site only”.
A total of five bins will be placed around the festival’s grounds, which the public can deposit drugs inside of, for analysis.
At last year’s Electric Picnic, the HSE screening team found drugs that had never been detected in the state before, most notably identifying an MDMA pill which had two times the average adult dose.
The @drugsdotie team are issuing caution from #EP2022.
— HSE Ireland (@HSELive) September 2, 2022
The lab on-site has identified Mybrand purple skull pill which is approximately two times the average dose.
Please exercise caution. Visit https://t.co/Z58KqtOZpU.#ReduceTheHarm pic.twitter.com/zvYuix8hnm
The ‘Safer Nightlife Programme‘ was activated at both the Life music festival and Body and Soul Festival this summer. Harm reduction teams and drug checking will be provided to analyse drugs on-site again, at this year’s Electric Picnic.
Real-time information of potentially dangerous drugs will be shared around the Festival arena and on the Electric Picnic app.
This year, the HSE’s Safer Nightlife Programme is expanding its service to include Drugs.ie tents and outreach teams at three locations. Members of the public can come for information, support and surrender drugs for ‘back of house’ drug checking.
Minister of State for Public Health and the National Drug Strategy Hildegarde Naughton said the programme is “an excellent example of interagency cooperation between the HSE, An Garda Siochana and festival organisers” to reduce the harm
The junior minister said she would encourage festival-goers to “be wary of the dangers” of using drugs and “engage with the HSE staff and volunteers for information and support about drug use”.
HSE issued three risk warnings relating to high strength, ketamine, cocaine and MDMA, as well as the HSE identifying three drugs which have never been detected before in Ireland at the other festivals this year.
One of which, Tuci or ‘Pink Cocaine’, was found to have a strong psychoactive substance, 2-Fluoromethamphetamine (2FMA), mixed with ketamine. Other mixes of Tuci included 2FMA and MDMA, cocaine and benzocaine.
Nicki Killeen, the HSE’s emerging drug trends project manager, said that while it is safer not to use drugs at all, the HSE encourages people to support the project as it will assist them to get a better understanding of the Irish drug market.
Killeen and professor Eamon Keenan, the clinical lead for addiction services, both welcomed the return of the programme to the festival this year.
Keenan said the HSE are to provide a total of 30 hours of harm reduction support at this year’s festival, along with five drug surrender bins where people can deposit drugs for analysis.
Keenan added: “This programme is an excellent example of a health-led response to drugs whereby the HSE, Gardai and festival organisers collaborate to ensure that a safe space is provided for people who use drugs at events to surrender drugs.”
Killeen warned those who chose to use drugs to cautious and to avail of the services that are being provided by the health service.
She also warned of high potency MDMA pills that the team has found during the last three times the programme has been active. Killeen said the strength of the pills varied from 71mg of MDMA to 246mg of MDMA, from the tests performed.
“This means that you could experience a different reaction each time you take a pill so if people choose to use drugs, they need to consider harm reduction advice,” Killeen said.
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How about they send the Gardai back to patrol the lawless city streets instead of trying to catch some harmless concert goer with a spliff.
@Tony Doran: Meanwhile on Thomas St.
@Tony Doran: Sooooo leave the festivals unpoliced? Sounds good.. nice reasoning…
@Rafa C: Better than leaving city streets unpoliced.
@Tony Doran: will ya still say harmless when a concert goer dies
@Steve O’Hara Smith.: They can do both – it’s not 1 or the other.
@Jason Walsh: No one dies from smoking a spliff. People could die from unadulterated drugs which makes a compelling argument for legalisation. Either way, people will take drugs regardless and no amount of Garda presence will stop them. Prohibition doesnt work. It just makes drugs more dangerous.
@Tony Doran: they ain’t just doing spliffs now a days though . You’d be the first one (or second third ) on here whinging if there were drinking rights , a stabbing and maybe the odd sexual assault or rape at this event …
@Thesaltyurchin: whoever walks that street and socialises there needs their heads checked
@Steve O’Hara Smith.: how.? There are plenty of ways and places to escape from trouble on the street . Most of the filth are on the street so they are no loss . One pats big money to attend an event they do so with expectation that the riff raff stay away and security ensures that
So he or she or them is going to buy their drug of choice for the concert, so they can get high then on arrival they are going to dump it in the bin, come on lads lol, they would be more likely to jump into the bin.
@David Harries: They already said the pilot was successful – so some people want to do this. If they do they get the support. If they don’t they can be potentially arrested, or have medical issues, or worse, could die from an overdose.
If you need help you can seek it out and get it.
If you don’t want help, there’s not much anyone can do.
@Rafa C: it was different last year, then they said they would basically turn a blind eye but this year there saying they will be arrested..that’s my reading of it.
@kevin rock: Arrested yes, if you don’t turn them over. If they find drugs on people who have not surrendered them at the bins they will carry out their duties as per the law and carry out arrests etc.
@kevin rock: it wasn’t different last year. The guards said the same thing, no amnesty. The comments section exploded on here with people saying the guards would be arresting everyone, which of course didn’t happen.
@Rafa C: Pilot? They’ve enough to be sorting out with the air traffic Control incident.
@James T.Kirk: Seems like an unrelated situation.
@Paul C: Out of 70,000 attendees they received just 46 samples last year. It was not a success. I got 2 texts alerting us to high levels of MDMA in certain pills which just made them more desirable. It did nothing to make the weekend safer for anyone who chose to take drugs.
@Declan Doherty: Maybe the medical staff were better prepared to treat people who took way too much, though? At least they have a better idea of what’s going around if they have samples to work with?
I’m assuming that a lot of people might buy new pills, drop one off for analysis and then take half of it?
@Declan Doherty: why would they need or want to make things safer for those who desire and do take drugs ? They can dig their own grave if it all goes wrong . The cops are there to try to stop anti social behaviour , which includes the little part time j u n k I es consuming illegal drugs in public and going off to annoy others with their boring opinions (you know the type when they are high )
@F Fitzgerald: the medical staff would be silly to give any priorities to those i d I o t s when there are others who need medical assistance . Let those people take their drugs and let the fittest survive , don’t intervene
I’ll be offering a free bin collection service outside the gig also….
@Paul: Lol… It will probably be as successful as the official drug bins. Enjoy ; )
What a laughable idea! What type of slow joe would buy a load of drugs, dump them in the bin at the festival, then get arrested by garda!
@Canada Goose G Dog: Clearly you didn’t understand the article, maybe you’re on of the ‘slow joes’ you’re on about.
You dump them in the bin you won’t be arrested. If you are found with them at the festival, when you’ve gone by the bins – then you will be arrested if found with drugs.
Last year, they didn’t arrest people with drugs and offered the chance to dump them. They won’t get that leniancy this year.
Dump them or be arrested.
Or simply don’t bring them.
Either way, you’ll miss a great concert by being off your face, or in a jail cell.
Or you can enjoy the concert and get off your bin afterwards on your own or with friends in private, but not in public…
@Rafa C: call the cops bro! Concerts and drugs go hand in hand, stop with your tyrannical views.
@Rafa C: There’s plenty of legal alcohol for people to get off their faces on, but of course that’s not a drug so it’s OK. You can even bring 48 cans each as well as buying it on site.
Can anyone spell double standards!
@Canada Goose G Dog: Well if that’s what you’re going for have at it. You’re in charge of you. Best of luck.
@Rafa C: You could still get arrested in the act of dumping them.
@James T.Kirk: No – this is the point of the dump option.
@Rafa C: Nowhere in the article does it say “if you dump them in the bin, you won’t be arrested”. You are literally just making that up. Highlight the quote if I am mistaken.
@Rafa C:If you’re found with drugs by guards anywhere,any time, any place you’ll be arrested, not just at a festival.
So anyone that has carried drugs before knows this risk.A festival is probably the last place on earth that you will be caught with drugs.You keep them in your wallet in your pocket and if everyone was to be thoroughly stripsearched every time they enter or leave the stage area back to the campsite then it would take days to search tens of thousands of people and no festival could function.I’ve been to festivals in Norway,Germany,France and Ireland and all they can feasibly do is a quick pat down on Your legs and chest to check for knives or other weapons.And that is all that is needed.You haven’t a chance of being caught with them so why buy some just to throw it away?
@Rafa C: Old Bill!
@Rafa C: And no you won’t “miss a great concert by being off your face” You might on too much drink yeah and end up in a fight or in hospital but a few joints can and probably will enhance any live music experience.
Maybe you lack self control but I am a hard working carpenter with a mortgage and am quite happy to alter my consciousness when I feel the occasion suits.Some of us have the discipline and sense to watch it,the same as we Watch our diet and exercise etc.
The majority of drug users at a festival don’t need help as you put it.
You need help understanding basic human behaviour.Sounds like you might have difficulty controlling your urges and think that anyone who engages in drug taking will descend into drug addiction automatically.This is a fairly childish attitude.
@Johnny King: Well said!
@Canada Goose G Dog: you’re the “slow joe” mate. You don’t buy a load of drugs and dump them in a bin for testing. Just one….They did it last year at EP and it worked – RTFA ffs!! They also do this at other big music festivals like Glasto, Leeds and Reading. You’re the one that doesn’t get it – some people want to know whats in the shït theyre taking – for the safety of themselves…and others. Check yourself.
@Johnny King: Good for you Johnny, responsible and drug using don’t really go hand in hand though. Wouldn’t want a carpenter stinking of drugs doing any work near my house or place of business. If you want to get off your face on your own time then go for it.
You do you. Nobody stopping you. Except laws that are in place to protect you.
Yes, people drink excess alcohol, and get into fights. Sure.
People get off their face on alcohol and drugs and die too.
But lets not talk about that.
Fact is alcohol is legal and produced in conditions that meet health criteria with warning labels and consumption levels.
I’m pretty sure your bag o’stuff is not controlled, health checked, or quality controlled for other substances, and that the baggy it comes in has no information in regards to consumption levels, and/or warning labels.
But you do you, ya chip of the ol’ block
@UK Hurling Bloke: It really doesn’t work like that. If you buy drugs it’s illegal and you are at risk of arrest. No sensible person will risk having their drugs tested, as they risk them being confiscated and worse still then arrested. Black Market works this way. Would you call Virgin Media to come and test your firestick? Not the sharpest tool are you! Lol
@Rafa C: I would not expect Johnny to do any work at your house. Sounds like you would refuse to pay for any work done and tell him to bring his own teabags!
@Canada Goose G Dog: Well if you’re finished the job in 5 minutes and I’ve paid for the hour you’re making the tea while I put my feet up for 55 minutes. Do the hoovering and some ironing too please. Thanks.
@Rafa C: You’ve no idea how the system works. There has never been an amnesty. You don’t walk past any bins. You’d have to go out of your way looking for them. Only 42 people felt safe enough to drop drugs in the bin last year and Gardai arrested many multples of that over the weekend. Incredible how its so often the most vocal who are the most ill informed.
@Steve O’Hara Smith.: Seriously, people are allowed to bring in a slab of cans? It’s a while since I went to a concert, and we had to smuggle stuff in then!
@F Fitzgerald: Apparently so. I was surprised too I expected it would be on site sales only to allow price gouging.
@Steve O’Hara Smith.: they are arrested because they consume illegal products . Nothing to do with health and safety . If the cans were illegal they too would be confiscated and the people would be arrested . The Gardai enforce the law , they don’t legislate for it
48 cans ? Ha lightweight . Probably the girlie boy brand of larger too
Time to delete this archaic drug laws and evolve them. Education & testing is needed ,,,,, not an iron fist from biased, non medical Gardai
@Ate “8 Waved Sun” Waved Sun: I believe the bins at the event are trying to do what you suggest. The Gardai are only enforcing the law – not creating it.
@Rafa C: What part of “No amnesty” do you not understand?
@Mike: What?
@Rafa C: I guess comprehension is tough for you in general. Never mind so, off you go to hand in your drugs like a good lad.
@Ate “8 Waved Sun” Waved Sun: lock up all the pot heads and smack heads and make sure that they destroy their lives . Need to keep Gardai in jobs
You waffle about lack of education but fail to see that the Gardai only follow and enforce the law . They don’t have a lot of discretion . The National Parliament drafts the legislation , not the cops
you are picking the wrong group to fight with there . Maybe lay off the drugs . You might then have something intelligent to say
Great to hear and hopefully creates a positive support system for someone trying to kick an addiction. Hopefully, they can set up other centers for people struggling with other addictions like alcohol and other concoctions, etc.
Getting high on drugs or alcohol, there are different ways to have fun out there.
In terms of the drugs, who knows what’s in them as they are not made in controlled circumstances and can have numerous issues. I think I remember reading before they they found cement or concrete in some drugs they tested before.
Anyway, stay safe out there and if you seek help good on ya!
@Rafa C: Yes, because the first step in overcoming drug addiction is going to a music festival and buying some drugs, then changing your mind 20 mins later and handing them over to the authorities who have publicly declared there will be no amnesty if you are in possession of drugs hahahahahaha
@Mike: Some people do – and have done – it was already tested and it worked. If people want the chance to do it then why deny them?
If you don’t want to do it – then don’t.
It’s optional. (that means it’s a choice)
@Rafa C: Well alright then. Now go and hand in those pesky drugs so you can start your road to recovery.
@Mike: If it helps some then what’s the harm. Definitely a better option than using them.
@Rafa C: If it does help anyone, then fair play. I just don’t imagine too many people will be volunteering their drugs. One poster above said they received 46 samples last year out of 70k people (no idea if that’s true). Maybe it will catch on, but I think there needs to be a guarantee that you won’t be arrested if you hand anything in. Even if it’s not official, it should be understood by all that there actually is an amnesty (the opposite of what is said in the article). If they do find a bad batch containing something especially harmful, it could make a difference. All joking aside, it might be a small step in the right direction. Have a good afternoon, Rafa.
NO SURRENDER!!!
The biggest problem with pills and powders is that there is no way of knowing what they contain before taking them.
It would be far safer if pure, labelled drugs were available from licensed suppliers.
The idea that it is possible to prevent people from taking drugs is clearly wrong no matter how desirable it may seem. Indeed the more it is tried the worse the mess of illegal drugs seems to get.
@Steve O’Hara Smith.: Heroin was once legal and a cure for coughs and a painkiller. Opium for pain relief. Cocaine was legal up to early 20th Century and was in tonics and elixirs. LSD was once legal. As was Cannabis.
But you know what they’ve studied these things over time and the factors in helath and mental health and deemed them illegal for personal use.
But wait ‘Steve O’Hara’ on the journal says they’re grand – and we should just enjoy ourselves and be damned with the law and the science over 2 or 3 centuries that are here to protect us. Steve wants to go to Electric Picnic and ‘enjoy’ himself.
@Rafa C: To take your last point first. I am not going to Electric Picnic.
Secondly none of the laws banning recreational drug use were introduced for health reasons. The first laws banning cannabis were racist in origin.
Thirdly even if they had been motivated by the best interests of people, we now have more than a century of evidence that prohibition is counter productive.
@Rafa C: Sometimes it’s better to accept you know nothing about a topic then to keep posting your ignorance for all to see. I say sometimes because there’s always a chance you might learn something however I don’t get the sense that would apply to you.
Better system would be to test the drugs. Warn about ingredients and educate on dangers and then hand the drugs back. Would save some ambulance trips, record a huge sample size of drugs on the current market. provide better analysis records for future medical and criminal goals.
@Barney: that’s literally what they do. Any drugs dumped in the bins or given to the on-site medical teams are tested.
@Paul C: except hand the drugs back so nearly everyone xould avail of service.
@Barney: Hand illegal drugs back… right… might as well have a bin for guns and knives. Sure, it’s only personal use, none of your business.
@Barney: I honestly thought that’s what’s happening in practice. If someone hands one in for analysis, they’d know how strong the rest of the batch are. I don’t see how they could give stuff back after testing it though. It would probably be dissolved with other chemicals to get a read.
Why would anyone surrender their drugs. As if electric picnic wasn’t bad enough
So another weekend of revellers smoking, injecting, drinking and swallowing items of no known ingredients or strength and expecting medical personnel to patch them up and send them home.
I hope when they sue their dealer for compensation they get what they deserve.
@: Yup being saying it in a lot of posts here. But the users of the journal know better and wanna get their high and know better than anyone else, including centuries of studies and law enforcement. They want to go to electric picnic and get high and it’s not anyone else’s business, apparently.
Anybody want to buy a fake bin? Might be handy.
Stoners defending illegal drugs use, who’d have thought!
Joined up and progressive thinking really on show here from two important arms of the State. Fair play lads. Scoops all round.
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