CLUBBERS and venue owners across East Lancashire have received vital health and safety advice on drugs and sexual infections in a bid to make nights out safer.

Members of the Lancashire Drug Action Team staged a conference at the Utopia Discotheque, Blackburn, to spread the word.

Around 100 people accepted the invitation as licensing officers, accident and emergency staff, police and drug organisation workers joined the clubbers and venue owners.

Health and safety practices for drugs such as ecstasy and acid were promoted, as well as prevention of sexual infections like genital warts and gonorrhoea through safe sex.

The aim was to empower people with information that will prevent health problems - for example, accident and emergency staff were invited so they are aware how to help clubbers brought in with drug-related problems.

It is also hoped clubbers who dabble in drugs will be more aware of how to avoid side-effects like heat stroke if they choose to take ecstasy.

Blackburn and Preston were the main targets of the conference but representatives were also invited from Burnley and Accrington.

Conrad Eydmann, development manager for the Lancashire DAT, said: "It's not the first time we have done something like this but it is the largest.

"We are responsible for providing health and safety information relating to drug use. We don't condemn drug use, but accept people use drugs on a recreational basis.

"We still promote the fact that drugs should not be used, but we want greater awareness about the reality of drug use in the venues."

Kath Talboys, project manager of Drug Line Lancashire, one of the agencies involved, said the conference was a response to a new government strategy on drug use in club environments.

She added: "We are looking at reducing drug use and the harm of drug use."