More than a dozen people have been hospitalised due to drug use at festivals in Sydney over the Australia Day long weekend.
Several people are facing drug charges while more than a dozen people were left critically ill due to drug use at Sydney
music festivals over the weekend.
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Extra safety measures were in place at three Australia Day long weekend festivals including increased presence of critical care medical teams and harm reduction measures, such as roving drug educators and free electrolyte drinks.
Drugs are likely to have been a factor in four of eight hospitalisations following the Rolling Loud festival at Sydney Showgrounds on Sunday, NSW Health said.
By midnight on Sunday a female in her 20s, another female in her teens and a male in his 20s were serious but stable conditions. Another female in her 20s was in a critical but stable condition. A male in his teens was in a stable condition and two females in their teens and a male in his 20s were in non-critical conditions after attending the hip-hop festival
It comes as six men aged under 25 were either stable or discharged from hospital after leaving the Hardcore Till I Die festival at Sydney Olympic Park on Saturday in critical or serious conditions.
Police accused seven people of drug supply at the event, including a 17-year-old Castle Hill boy with 579 capsules and $2075.
He's due to face a children's court on February 20.
Another alleged supplier, aged 25, was allegedly found with 100 MDMA capsules and a knife while a South Australian woman allegedly had 48 ecstasy capsules on her.
A further 16 people are due to face court for drug possession while 30 people were ejected for intoxication.
Five people were taken to hospital on Saturday from Electric Gardens in Centennial Park due to suspected drug use, while 55 people were charged with drug possession and one woman accused of MDMA supply.
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian, whose government footed the bill for the extra protection, said she hoped and prayed people were starting to get the message to not take illicit drugs.
