Irish Examiner view: Know what you are taking with illicit substances

HSE to pilot a drug checking scheme at music festival to reduce potential harm to revellers 

The HSE is right to argue that drug-checking will help to identify any dodgy substances doing the rounds at festivals and allow them to alert potential users to the dangers. 

Numerous studies carried out at music festivals across Europe have shown that drugs being peddled at festivals have been contaminated or, worse, do not come anywhere close to being what the drugs dealers say they are.

And, following an alarming rise in drug-related deaths at many European festivals this year, it has been found that this can be countered by the on-site testing of illicit substances.