Drug Checking/Analysis at NSW Music Festivals

The Illicit Drugs Analysis Unit’s role in Harm Minimisation

Join us for our first NSW Branch meeting of 2026 as we explore the critical work of the Illicit Drugs Analysis Unit (IDAU) and its role in the NSW Government’s 12-month drug checking trial at music festivals.

Following the recent NSW Drug Summit, strong support emerged for the implementation of drug checking services across the state. In response, NSW has commenced a time-limited trial delivering on-site drug analysis and harm-reduction advice directly to festival attendees.

Over recent years, IDAU analysis of drug seizures has revealed increasing complexity in active ingredients, emerging novel psychoactive substances, and higher dosages than historically observed. This presentation will examine how drug checking services have been established in the festival environment and how forensic science is supporting public health outcomes in this evolving landscape.

IDAU analysts — specialists in the examination of illicit drugs and pharmaceuticals — conduct on-site drug checking using:

• Near Infrared (NIR) spectroscopy
• Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy
• Chemical class (colour) tests
• Drug-specific test strips

The purpose of the service is to identify the primary active ingredient(s) present in submitted substances. Results are communicated directly to clients, alongside tailored harm-reduction advice delivered by experienced peer workers, supported by clinical leads and IDAU forensic analysts.

The trial forms part of a broader collaborative operation at music festivals, working alongside rapid drug surveillance and early warning systems to maximise public health benefits and reduce drug-related harm.

This session offers valuable insight into the intersection of forensic science, public health policy, and frontline service delivery.