Dr. Eamon Keenan:

This is a pragmatic approach. The reality is that people at some of these events do use drugs, whether we like to admit to it or not. As well as the back-of-house testing at these festivals, we will have volunteers who are out and about going around the campsites and talking to attendees. That, in conjunction with us being able to identify harmful substances and put out communications, is getting the message across. We are working with the festival promoters and the people attending these events will be given information, prior to attending the event, around harm reduction and the risks associated with drugs, so that everybody there will be able to get access to that information. Festival promoters and safety promoters have bought into this. We will have volunteers onsite who will be able to talk to attendees about the harms and risks and if they are having any difficulties. We have pragmatic advice such as saying do not go away into a corner and use alone. Tell your friends if you do use drugs and tell the medics if you have taken drugs. This is the practical advice that we are giving in this programme as well as sort of a headline thing where we are testing the drugs.