Hyperdome music festival on 7 June 2025 will be the third music festival to participate in the continuing NSW drug checking trial.
The free and anonymous drug checking service allows festival patrons to bring a small sample of substances they intend to consume to be analysed. Qualified health staff provide a rapid evaluation of the main components of the substance in line with available technology, and an indication of potency where possible.
NSW Chief Health Officer, Dr Kerry Chant said there will always be risks involved when consuming these substances and this is not an endorsement of illicit drug use.
"The drug checking trial is designed to help patrons make safer choices by connecting them with experienced health and peer staff who can provide information along with harm reduction advice," Dr Chant said.
"The service is staffed by peer workers, health workers and analysts who clearly communicate the capabilities and limitations of drug checking to festival patrons.
"Patrons are never advised that a drug is safe to use. Staff will provide patrons with a referral to health and welfare services available at the event and in the community to help support harm minimisation."
The first trial site was located at the Yours and Owls music festival in Wollongong on 1 and 2 March 2025. The second trial site was located at the Midnight Mafia Festival in Sydney on 3 May 2025.
NSW Health and NSW Police Force are working closely with festival organiser Symbiotic and other stakeholders to ensure safe and effective implementation of the trial at the Hyperdome festival. The trial operates alongside other harm reduction and medical services at participating festivals. Illicit drugs remain illegal in NSW.
"Drug checking is one more tool in the belt to create a safer event and we welcome and support NSW Health on this Government-led harm reduction initiative," Symbiotic Co-Director Janette Bishara said.
The 12 month trial will be independently evaluated. Up to nine additional festivals will be included in the trial following Hyperdome.
The trial comes after the NSW Government's Drug Summit concluded in early December. The recently released Report on the 2024 New South Wales Drug Summit provides a priority action recommending a trial of music festival-based drug testing.
Further information on the NSW drug checking trial can be found here.
More information for young people around how to keep themselves and their friends safe at music festivals is available on the Your Room website.
