Ecstasy warning to festival goers

By Steve Holden
Newsbeat reporter at Balado Airfield, Kinross There are concerns that increased prices may indicate a higher strength Police have told Newsbeat they're concerned by a rise in the availability of ecstasy pills ahead of this weekend's T In the Park festival.

The event is Scotland's biggest festival with around 80,000 people expected to attend across the weekend.

It comes as concerns rise over a batch of super-strong ecstasy thought to be circulating the country.

Police believe the deaths of two men in Ayrshire last weekend were linked to the drug.

Detective Chief Superintendent Craig Suttie is Event Commander at T In The Park.

'Robust regime'

He told Newsbeat: "We've seen a rise across Scotland in the quantity and quality of ecstasy. There's definitely an increased amount of it about."

Ryan Millar and Laura Timpany say they have seen more ecstasy warnings

It's understood taking one tablet from the 'extra strong' batch could have the effect of taking six tablets at once.

DCI Suttie says: "Last year we were particularly concerned about legal highs, this year it's ecstasy.

"We do have a robust search regime in place though at T In The Park and have already made a number of recoveries.

"My message to festival goers is that ecstasy has been linked to some recent deaths.

"If you do take it - and I'm not condoning it - you don't know how strong the pills are going to be and the effects they'll have.

"Put short, drugs are dangerous."

Festival goers Laura Timpany, 21, and Ryan Millar, 19, have come to T in the Park for the weekend.

Laura said: "There are definitely more warnings about ecstasy this year.

"We came up on the bus and there were leaflets from the police on board. It said, 'ecstasy' in big letters and told us taking the drug could be fatal."

There are concerns that some tablets, which can usually cost ?1.50, are being sold for ?10.

That's a possible indication that the dealers know what they're selling is of a stronger quality.

Beyonce, Coldplay, Pulp, Foo Fighters, Arctic Monkeys and Plan B are among the headliners at T In The Park this year.

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