More Drug Arrests & Hospitalisations At NYD Festivals Following Two Deaths

2 January 2019 | 8:18 am | Staff Writer

Including new Melbourne festival, First NYD.

UPDATE: 

Police have today confirmed 155 people were arrested on drug-related matters, while six were charged. 

Five festivalgoers were also hospitalised, four of which are believed to be drug-related.

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New Year's Day festivals across Australia saw more drug-related hospitalisations and arrests after two men died from suspected drug overdoses in recent days. 

As 7 News reports, 150 people were arrested at Sydney's annual Field Day festival on Tuesday for drug-related offences, while four more were hospitalised, three of which believed to be drug related. 

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Meanwhile at Melbourne's inaugural First NYD event at Sidney Myer Music Bowl, sniffer dogs reportedly searched 100 punters; while most who were found with a small amount of drugs were let off with a caution, police made nine arrests.

It comes after a 22-year-old Brisbane local died after taking an "unknown substance" at Lost Paradise festival in New South Wales on Saturday, while a 20-year-old male was confirmed to have passed away yesterday after being hospitalised from a suspected overdose on Sunday at Beyond The Valley festival in Lardner.

Two other festivalgoers attending Beyond The Valley were also hospitalised in a critical condition, however both have returned to a stable condition.

Meanwhile,  Falls Festival organisers sent a warning out to all patrons on Sunday regarding a "dangerous orange pill" being circulated around Australia.

NSW Opposition Leader Michael Daley has confirmed his party will consider pill testing should it be voted in the in the March election, however Premier Gladys Berejiklian has again rejected the idea.

“There is no such thing as a safe illegal drug and I urge everyone who is attending a festival to stay safe and think carefully about the decisions they make around drugs,” Berejiklian said.