The HSE has issued an urgent warning over a drug at Electric Picnic after testing showed a pill to be double the average adult dose.
The pill which is a purple skull in appearance, is MDMA but way above the normal dose according to HSE labs on site.
And officials are warning festival goers to avoid the pill with three more days of the festival to go.
A release from the HSE says: "Mybrand purple skull identified as high strength MDMA at HSE drug monitoring lab at Electric Picnic, which is a cause for concern.
"Contents are approximately two times the average adult dose. Please exercise caution and remember it's safer not to use drugs at all.
"Chat with HSE harm reduction teams onsite for more information. Don't be afraid to get medical help."
The alert comes after the HSE, in partnership with the Department of Health and the Department of Tourism and Culture, rolled out a drug monitoring programme to examine drugs and "provide real-time information" at the festival.
It is in an effort to improve emerging drug trend responses and to reduce drug-related harm in Ireland.
The drugs will be obtained by way of individuals anonymously submitting substances to a “surrender bin” in a designated tent operated by the HSE.
The system is what’s described by the working group as a ‘back of house’ system because the drugs are not obtained specifically from individuals but through the anonymous bin.
A ‘front of house’ system analyses substances obtained directly from the person who submits them, with results delivered in real-time while the person waits. This system is in operation in other European countries.
The working group says that should the evaluation of this pilot ‘back of house ’ system prove positive, a comprehensive ‘front of house’ approach should be considered.
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