Ross revellers get Bella drugs warning

ROSS-SHIRE revellers descending on the sell-out Belladrum Tartan Heart music festival on Friday are being warned off potentially life-threatening “legal highs”.

The warning ahead of the two-day event follows the tragic death at this year’s RockNess festival of 19-year-old student, Alex Herriot.

Representatives from the police, Highland Council, NHS Highland and other agencies gathered at the site ahead of today’s launch to hammer home the message that the 15,000 revellers should keep safe.

Northern Constabulary pledged it would deal “robustly” with any cases of disorder, antisocial behaviour or drug misuse.

Karen Carson, health promotion specialist with NHS Highland, also advised that the safest option for festival goers is not to take any street drugs or “legal highs”.

Edinburgh teenager Alex Herriot died at the RockNess festival in Dores earlier this summer. It is thought he had experimented with a drug. The tragedy prompted a heartfelt warning from his devastated family to other revellers. They spoke of their “unbearable” loss and said in a statement: “Please, please be aware that certain drugs can kill and please don’t be the next youngster to leave their family bereft.”

Ms Carson said that “legal” does not mean “safe” and drugs like Ecstasy and many “legal highs” can affect the body’s temperature control, while dancing for long periods in a hot atmosphere, can increase the chances of overheating and dehydrating.

She said: “Those unable to abstain from taking drugs should take regular breaks from dancing to cool down. They should be careful about fluid intake and reduce the risks by sipping fluids roughly a pint of water every hour and to avoid drinking alcohol. Festival goers are urged to look out for their friends – if they have taken drugs or alcohol they may not be aware that they are in trouble. If you are concerned about a friend, get help immediately.”

She also urged people drinking alcohol to pace themselves, to eat well and drink water.

More on this story in this week's Ross-shire Journal.