As the 2010 festival season approaches, thousands of people across the UK are dusting off their tents, digging out their wellies and crossing their fingers for a summer of sun.

But wet weather and waterlogged tents could be the least of your troubles if you don’t take steps to look after yourself and your mates. With many gigs and events running through the night, it’s easy to over-do it.

Make sure you don’t remember this year’s festival for the wrong reasons by following a few simple tips from FRANK……

Know the facts

• Whether you think you'll take drugs or not, you should know about the facts. Check out our A-Z of drugs, email us, text your question to 82111 or call FRANK on 0800 77 66 00 for friendly, confidential advice 24 hours a day.

Beware ‘Legal Highs’

• You may see a number of ‘legal highs’ for sale.  There has been very little research into the short, medium and long term risks of the various ‘legal highs’. However, it is becoming increasingly clear that they are far from harmless and can have similar health risks to drugs like cocaine, ecstasy and speed.

• It’s likely that drugs sold as a ‘legal high’ may actually contain one or more substances that are actually illegal to posses. What you may think is a legal high that you can’t get in trouble for having, could be something completely different with dangerous side effects, and in fact a class B drug.

Keep your friends close…

• It’s a good idea to stick together with your mates at festivals. If you do take something, then tell your friends what you’ve taken – if something does go wrong then you’ll need their help. If someone starts to get stressed, take them somewhere quiet, try to calm them down and send for help if needed. 

… And your drinks closer

• Drink-spiking can and does happen so don’t accept drinks from strangers. Mixing alcohol and drugs will also make the effects of both far more unpredictable.

Expect the unexpected

• If you take drugs then you don’t know what you’re getting. Cocaine can be cut with tetramisole (used for worming pets), you won’t know what’s in any pills you buy, and cannabis can be of varying strengths. And the effects can be different in different people.

Drive safely

• Make sure you know how you are getting home.  No one wants to be left behind because they’re too wasted to drive, and drug driving carries the same penalties as drink driving. Make sure you don’t accept a lift from anyone if you think they’ve been taking drugs.

Resist peer pressure

• Don’t feel under pressure to try drugs if you don’t want to. Drugs are more likely to have a bad effect if you’re feeling disorientated, so it’s not a great idea to take them in unfamiliar settings with large crowds of people.

Keep cool…

• Ecstasy affects the body’s temperature control – so if you take it or other dance drugs and move around a lot, then you risk overheating, dehydration and blackouts. Make sure you take regular breaks from the dance floor to cool down. You should also be careful with fluids as drinking too much can be dangerous or even fatal. Reduce the risks by sipping no more than a pint of water or non-alcoholic fluid every hour.

… And stay out of trouble

• Many festivals have a zero tolerance policy when it comes to drugs. If you’re caught with drugs they are likely to be confiscated and if you’re caught dealing you will be dealt with by the police.  Get caught with Class A drugs like cocaine and you could face seven years in jail. And remember, what you think is a ‘legal high’ could very well be a Class B controlled substance. It’s perhaps worth remembering that landing up with a criminal record may limit your career prospects and make it hard to get visas for travel abroad.