The third drug death at a NSW music festival in as many months has sparked renewed calls to introduce controversial pill testing kits inside festival grounds.
Pharmacist Sylvia Choi, 25, died after taking ecstasy at Sydney's Stereosonic Festival on Saturday.
At least 130 people were treated for overdoses at the festival and 69 charged with drug supply and possession offences.
Australian drug researcher David Caldicott said testing drugs on site would wake young people up to their grave dangers.
He said more than two-thirds of people refused to take a drug if something other than ecstasy was found in the tablet.
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"It undermines their sense that it is a completely safe market ... it clearly reduces people's inclination to consume drugs," he said.
Drug testing is not supported by NSW Police and a spokeswoman said the force would not comment on pill testing kits.
However, Harm Reduction Australia vice president Tony Trimingham, whose son Damien died from a heroin overdose in 1997, told AAP testing could reduce deaths.
"There's no way a heavy-handed police presence is ever going to make a difference ... (drug testing's) been going on for more than a decade in Europe and it seems to work very well," Mr Trimingham said.
Grieving mother Adriana Buccianti, whose 34-year-old son died in 2012 after taking acid at a Victorian music festival, said pill testing should be introduced.
"If somebody who is well-trusted tells you this substance will kill you, then without having the fear of reprisal, I can bet you my bottom dollar that person wouldn't take it," she said.
Ms Buccianti also wants illicit drugs legalised, which has been met with staunch opposition from anti-drugs campaigners.
Meanwhile, festival drug users have told AAP of getting more creative with their smuggling techniques as they rank their fear of getting caught by police over the possibility of overdosing.
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"I'm way more scared of getting caught then OD-ing," said one regular user.
"It comes down to experience, you don't take more than you can handle and you only buy from people you know."
Most of the users who spoke to AAP said they safeguarded themselves by buying from trusted dealers and checking warnings on drug websites.
"I just buy from someone I know, dealers usually test batches themselves," said one festival goer.
"It would be bad for business if they sold bad stuff, they would have no repeat customers."
Assistant Police Commissioner Frank Mennilli said attempts to warn people about the effects of drugs were falling on deaf ears.
"This number is alarming and disappointing, especially after we warned revellers about the dangers of drug use," he said.
There was no such thing as safe drug taking, Mr Mennilli said.
