Festival-goers welcoming in the new year at Falls Festivals across Australia have been sent an unnerving text message warning after yet another music festival tragedy this weekend.
The "serious drug alert" popping up on revellers' phones comes after a man died and two others were hospitalised from suspected drug overdoses at a separate festival this weekend.
The unnerving message has been sent to revellers at Falls Festivals around Australia. Photo / Twitter
It warned those at the annual music and camping festival — which runs from December 29-31 at Lorne in Victoria, Marion Bay in Tasmania and Byron Bay in New South Wales — of a lethal orange drug.
Festival chiefs say its medical teams had alerted them to the orange pill that was "currently in circulation across Australia".
The Brisbane man had travelled to Glenworth Valley, on the NSW Central Coast, for the Lost Paradise music festival, kicking off on Friday and due to run until Tuesday.
Josh Tam died from a suspected overdose caused by an unspecified substance at the Lost Paradise music festival in Sydney on Saturday night. Photo / Facebook
Police claim the man ingested an "unknown substance" on the second day of the festival and was raced to Gosford Hospital after suffering an adverse reaction to the drug at about 8pm on Saturday.
He died shortly after he arrived at hospital.
A man and woman remain in hospital in a stable condition after ingesting an unknown substance and becoming sick at the festival which advertises itself as a drug-free event.
Mr Tam's death comes a few weeks after 19-year-old Callum Brosnan died from a suspected drug overdose at a hardcore music festival in Sydney.
The teenage musician died after attending the Knockout Games of Destiny dance party at Sydney's Olympic Park.
Following Mr Brosnan's death, NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian said her government had already taken action by proposing tougher laws for dealers selling lethal drugs.
Video still of Callum Brosnan dancing shortly before he died of a suspected drug overdose. Photo / Facebook
The NSW Government also announced new licensing regulations to help combat the issue but they won't be in place until after summer.
However, she yet again ruled out pill testing.
After the second death in NSW this month, the national campaign for drug law reform, "Take Control", has pleaded with the Premier to reconsider her opposition to pill testing and "make music festivals safer".
"This is the second tragic festival death this month. It's terrible news and our thoughts are with the family and friends. As always, we must be respectful of the family and remember that every single life is precious," Ted Noffs Foundation CEO and campaign spokesman Matt Noffs said.
"Please Premier — this is not the time to blindly follow the 'just say no' failed strategy. Please at least listen to the evidence and come to the table so that we can make music festivals safer.
"Young people can get drugs easily, but don't know what they are taking. In responding to tragedy we must sometimes face hard truths. Decades of a punitive approach where we arrest young people has not worked. It is time to take practical steps to make parties safer for our kids."
Police on patrol at the Marion Bay Falls Festival. Photo / News Corp Australia
However, police had a simpler message for festival-goers.
"The best safety message is don't take drugs," Brisbane Water Police District Commander Acting Superintendent Rod Peet said in a statement yesterday.
"Police have had a significant response in relation to this event. The planning has been extensive over the last three months."
