HSE wants to expand festival drugs-testing pilot

The drug-checking service being piloted is called ‘back of house’, where substances are anonymously placed in ‘surrender bins’ in dedicated medical or HSE tents that are not being monitored by gardaí.

HSE officials are seeking to expand the limited drug checking initiative being piloting at music festivals to a more comprehensive, open testing service.

The move comes as the HSE has completed two of three planned checking programmes at festivals this year.