The Minister for Drugs Strategy says she would welcome anything that helps people to know the dangers of taking drugs. It comes amid calls for drug testing to be offered at Irish festivals this summer, to help reduce the risk of harm to music fans. However, Catherine Byrne has stopped short of saying if she would back that particular idea stressing that the safest option is to not take illegal drugs at all.
Some groups believe the testing kits help to improve people’s health and safety. The Ana Liffey Drug project have stated they are keen to provide the service, while the matter will be considered at the Sinn Féin Ard Dheis.
Ana Liffey CEO, Tony Duffin says,’the tragic deaths of young festival goers in the UK [recently] is a wakeup call to us all. We know that it is safest not to use unknown or illicit drugs at all, but we also know that over the summer some festival goers will use drugs and drink to excess.
The possession of drugs is illegal in Ireland and festival security and An Garda Síochána will do all they can to stop drugs circulating at festivals; however, it is simply not possible to prevent drug use at festivals.’
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