Drug warnings fall on deaf ears as two die, hundreds arrested at music festivals

Aussie festival-goers have been warned to stop playing Russian roulette with drugs after two men died in suspected overdoses at separate music events and 155 people were arrested at a Sydney festival. 

Brisbane rugby player Josh Tam died on Saturday night after a suspected overdose at the Lost Paradise Music Festival at Glenworth Valley, north of Sydney.

Friends and family paid tribute to the 22-year-old on social media, with one writing: “Forever in my heart”.

In a second tragedy, a 20-year-old Victorian died in hospital on Tuesday after attending the Beyond The Valley festival in Lardner, east of Melbourne. The man fell ill and collapsed at the event on Saturday.

The circumstances surrounding his death are yet to be confirmed but it is not being treated as suspicious and police will prepare a report for the coroner.

Festival arrests

Meanwhile in Sydney, six people were charged with drug supply offences for carrying MDMA and ketamine at the Field Day 2019 music festival yesterday.

These included a 21-year-old man who police said was carrying 40 MDMA capsules and assaulted officers, a 19-year-old man who allegedly had 55 MDMA capsules, and a 19-year-old woman allegedly found with 25 capsules.

NSW Police said 155 festivalgoers were arrested overall during the drug dog operation at Sydney’s Domain, with 149 nabbed for drug possession. 

About 28,000 people attended the New Year’s Day festival.

Another 40 people were caught with drugs and eight revellers arrested for trafficking and possessing drugs as well as for outstanding warrants at a music event in Melbourne.

Calls for pill testing

While the arrests and tragedies have re-ignited debate about pill testing, both the NSW and Victorian governments remain opposed to the idea.

"Advice from Victoria Police tells us it can give people a false and potentially fatal sense of security about illicit drugs," a Victorian government spokesman said.

But Australian Lawyers Alliance spokesman Greg Barns said the latest death could have been avoided - or at least that such risks could be minimised - with a law change.

"To refuse pill testing when it is known to save lives in Europe, North America and here, in Canberra, is grossly irresponsible on the part of (Victoria's) Andrews government," Mr Barns said.

Organisers of the annual four-state Falls Festival series also warned on Sunday of "dangerous orange pills" in circulation.

However, Victoria's deputy police commissioner Shane Patton said yesterday no matter the colour of the pill it isn't worth taking the chance.

"Any pill - it doesn't matter what the colour is. You don't know what's in it," Mr Patton said.

"They're produced by criminals. Often, it's just garbage picked up off a floor and thrown in a mix."

Ahead of Monday night's New Year's Eve festivities, Chief Superintendent Cameron Harsley warned: "If you are buying an unknown drug from somebody at a nightclub or in the street and you are consuming it, you are really playing Russian roulette there."

With AAP