HSE warns of high-strength ecstasy and ‘copycat pills’ ahead of District X festival

The HSE is holding its second, and final, harm reduction programme at the District X festival on Saturday and Sunday. Stock image

    Young people attending a dance music festival this weekend are being warned about the circulation of high-strength ecstasy and “copycat pills” containing more potent synthetic versions of the drug.

The HSE is holding its second, and final, harm reduction programme at the District X festival on Saturday and Sunday.

The event is set to attract up to 25,000 people from across the country and from both sides of the border.

It is being held at Palmerstown House and Estate, in Co Kildare, about 20 miles south of Dublin city.

The HSE issued two alerts at the Electric Picnic festival, held in Co Laois at the start of the month, highlighting high-strength products and 3-CMC, a synthetic cathinone, being sold as MDMA crystals and powders.