New Year’s Eve drug warning after Josh Tam death

The death of a Brisbane man at a music festival has served as a sobering reminder for New Year’s Eve revellers to avoid illicit substances.

QUEENSLANDERS have been urged to stay away from drugs following the death of a Brisbane man at a music festival.

Brisbane footballer Joshua Tam, 22, died after consuming a suspected cocktail of ecstasy and alcohol at the Lost Paradise festival north of Sydney on Saturday.

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With New Year’s Eve celebrations warming up, Queensland police have told would-be drug users to stop playing “Russian roulette” with their lives.

“If you’re buying an unknown drug ... well, you’re really playing Russian roulette there, so my message is just don’t do it, it’s not worth it,” Chief Superintendent Cameron Harsley said.

“In today’s society there’s that many people that will make drugs or think they making a drug but be putting unknown substances within that drug.

“So my advice is you just don’t take it.”

Chief Supt Harsley said an extra 400 officers would “surge” throughout Brisbane over the next 24 hours to handle what is the busiest event of the year for Queensland police.

“Police will be out in force tonight and our tolerance to anti-social behaviour will be zero,” he said.

“Police will be on the ground, be in the water and we’ll be up in the air.”

Her urged motorists to drive safely and avoid drink-driving or speeding with extra cameras being rolled out for tonight’s festivities.

Police have been planning tonight’s operation for months, and despite no evidence of a direct terror threat, have called on revellers to be vigilant.

The biggest issue for police will be handling the large crowds of people moving in and around the city centre.

“Those that are going to events with children we’d ask you to make sure they’re supervised at all times,” Chief Supt. Harsley said

“There’s nothing more frightening for a child to go missing on a night like tonight.”