Starting in March 2025 and finishing in February 2026, NSW Health, in partnership with NUAA , delivered a 12-month drug checking trial at select music festivals around the state.
The trial is now being independently evaluated to inform future program development.
Drug Checking was one harm reduction strategy festival goers can follow to help them STAY OK at music festivals. Here are some others to consider:
- The safest option is to avoid drugs, but if you do, take precautions to protect yourself.
- Stay hydrated, especially in hot weather. Drink water and electrolytes regularly.
- Festivals are more enjoyable with friends, so look out for your mates. If someone feels unwell, get help right away. You won't get in trouble for asking for help.
- Signs like overheating, confusion, or difficulty breathing are serious. Seek help immediately - staff at medical services onsite at festivals are there to help, not to judge.
- Major festivals also have chill-out zones and harm reduction services. Visit them if you need a break or support.
- Set limits, have a sober friend with you, and know where to go for help before you need it.
The goal? To help festival goers make informed, safer choices.
What was the NSW drug checking trial?
The Drug Checking Trial at NSW music festivals delivered a free and confidential drug checking service at 12 music festivals where festival goers 18 years and over were able to provide a small sample of a drug to be checked. Qualified health staff then rapidly identified the main components of substances provided and, where possible, provided an indication of potency. Drug checking equipment on site at festivals were able to identify the main components of most pills, capsules, powders, crystals or liquids. Now that the trial has concluded, the NSW Government will consider the outcome of an independent evaluation report to inform future policy decisions.
It is important to note that Drug Checking services cannot provide certainty about all the components in a drug – drug components can be unexpected, and the mixing can be imperfect. The technology used at the drug checking service may not identify components present in very low amounts. Some less common drug components can cause harm even in very low amounts.
Drug checking services provided a safe space for people to ask questions and get help without judgment. It helped more than 1800 people over the course of the trial better understand the risks and make informed decisions around drug use.
The trial was about keeping festival goers safe while having a good time at festivals, helping them make informed decisions, and avoiding harms.
This video shows what happened when visiting a drug checking service during the trail at a music festival in NSW.
