A drug testing regime, introduced at Electric Picnic in September, will be rolled out to different types of festivals this year, according to the HSE's National Clinical Lead for Addiction Services.
Speaking on RTÉ's Morning Ireland, Professor Eamon Keenan said it will begin at Life Festival in Mullingar this weekend.
Prof Keenan said drugs are becoming stronger and more dangerous. Stronger drugs bring higher risk, he said.
It is part of the HSE's drug harm-reduction campaign aimed at people attending music festivals across the country this summer.
A pilot drug checking scheme at Electric Picnic last September detected high potency MDMA pills, powders and crystals and a new substance 3-CMC.
The testing regime will now be rolled out at other big music events with people encouraged to anonymously surrender drugs for testing.
"What we're seeing is higher potency substances. We mentioned the MDMA tablet from last summer but also the pills and powders are higher strength I suppose... and with higher strength or higher potency comes higher risk, particularly from the mental health perspective."
Different types of drugs are taken at different events, he said.
He said there has been an increase in the use of cannabis edibles and synthetic cannabinoids.
Prof Keenan said that people who surrender drugs are not at risk of being arrested.
"This is a health-led initiative. We want to get information to people who are at these events and there's no judgement of people."
He said the identification of high potency drugs, including a new substance, at Electric Picnic, was very useful.
Drug testing at music festivals has been used as a harm reduction strategy.
The scheme involved festivalgoers anonymously surrendering drugs into special bins.
A total of 46 samples were submitted and analysed in real-time at the event.
This year, teams of HSE trained volunteers will available to talk about the ‘back of house’ programme, drug trends and harm-reduction practices with attendees, while also supporting people in cases of drug emergencies.
With hundreds of thousands of people attending festivals across Ireland this summer, the HSE said it wants people to stay safe.
