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Public Health advice on drugs and safety

Published on: 11 Jul 2026

Public Health Wales is reminding people that there is no completely safe way to take illegal drugs. Drug markets are unpredictable, and substances may contain unexpected ingredients, contaminants, or much stronger drugs than anticipated. This can lead to serious health consequences, including overdose, long-term health problems, and, in some cases, death.

Dr Giri Shankar, Director of Health Protection, Public Health Wales said, “The only way to avoid all the risks is to not take any drugs which are not prescribed for you. Think carefully about the risks before you start. Mixing any drug with another drug increases the risk of dangerous side effects. This includes alcohol.

Stay safe:

  • Look after your friends. It’s ok to tell each other to take it easy; that’s what good friends do. Don’t let anyone go off by themselves. If anyone becomes unwell stay with them. Some people can become aggressive. This can be a sign of someone having taken too much and may be an indicator of overdose.
  • If you or a friend have any worrying symptoms, seek medical help. Try to remain calm, and reassure the person that you are there to help. If they are breathing normally encourage them to put themselves into the recovery position or at least to keep still.

People are advised to: 

  • Drink water regularly and avoid alcohol, caffeine and sugary drinks 
  • Stay out of the sun and seek shade as much as possible 
  • Watch for signs of heat exhaustion.
  • If you or someone else feels unwell during hot weather move to a cool place, rest, and drink water. If symptoms worsen, it may become heatstroke, which is a medical emergency.   

What to do if you feel unwell in the heat  

  • Tell someone  
  • Move to a cooler area 
  • Sip cold water and avoid sugary, alcoholic, hot or caffeinated drinks 
  • Seek medical help. Call NHS 111 for advice or 999 in an emergency 

You can find advice about drugs harm reduction here: Harm reduction – WEDINOS – Welsh Emerging Drugs and Identification of Novel Substances Project