Police could be given the power to search patrons for drugs at dance festivals without reason, under changes being discussed with the Victorian Government.

Victoria Police said it was increasingly concerned about drug use and fatal overdoses across the state, including at music festivals.

It is currently in discussions with Government and other stakeholders about broadening the scope of the Major Sporting Events Act.

The powers granted to police under the act, including search powers, do not currently apply to music festivals, something police hope to change.

Sorry, this video has expired The rise of synthetic drugs

Victorian Minister for Police Lisa Neville said patrons of festivals with poor track records of drug use and overdoses would be searched as they entered the event.

"There would be designated events or festivals, so it's not every single festival like Moomba that it would occur," she said.

"It's all about trying to reduce harm, we know there are certain festivals that have had a long history of overdoses and ... large numbers of ambulances having to be called out serious harm being caused to young people."

Ms Neville said "bush doof" events would particularly come under greater police scrutiny.

"We've got a really big issue in some of our bush doof raves out in the country, where there's often very little organisation and very little safety features as part of those raves," she said.

"Being in remote areas it causes significant risk because it's difficult to get access to large numbers of ambulances."



'Education, prevention and early intervention'

The Victorian Government has previously conceded that harm reduction efforts to address overdoses had not been effective in the state, following a number of troubling incidents.

In January, three people died after taking a bad batch of ecstasy linked to nightclubs on Chapel Street in South Yarra.

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Gamma hydroxybutyrate is a synthetic drug usually taken as a colourless, odourless liquid that tastes slightly salty Effects including euphoria, increased sex drive and lowered inhibitions can be felt within 20 minutes

Effects including euphoria, increased sex drive and lowered inhibitions can be felt within 20 minutes Also lowers temperature and heart rate, and can cause memory lapses, drowsiness, dizziness and headaches

Also lowers temperature and heart rate, and can cause memory lapses, drowsiness, dizziness and headaches Overdose symptoms include vomiting, sweating, irregular breathing, confusion and agitation, hallucinations, blackouts and seizures

Overdose symptoms include vomiting, sweating, irregular breathing, confusion and agitation, hallucinations, blackouts and seizures Alternatively known as fantasy, grievous bodily harm (GHB), liquid ecstasy or fishies

In the same month, a 22-year-old man died at the Rainbow Serpent music and lifestyle festival north-west of Ballarat, the second person to die at the festival in five years.

Meanwhile, dozens of revellers were taken to hospital in February after apparently taking the drug at a dance festival at the Sidney Myer Music Bowl.

Despite its push for greater search and enforcement powers, Victoria Police re-emphasised it is vital the community pushes hard with other strategies to tackle the problem.

"Drug use is a whole of community issue which requires a collaborative approach to address," a spokesperson for Victoria Police said.

"Education, prevention and early intervention initiatives as well as referrals into treatment to tackle demand are all vital in addressing the issue of drug harm.

"We really need to challenge attitudes around the use of illicit drug use in the community."