Police used sniffer dogs as partygoers arrived at the Stereosonic festival in Melbourne. Photo: Craig Sillitoe

A teen had to be taken to hospital in a critical condition at the Stereosonic festival in Melbourne as police arrested nearly 70 partygoers for drug offences.

There were six suspected drug overdoses at the festival held at the Flemington Showgrounds on Saturday while a man died at a similar event in Adelaide – the second death linked to the event in the past week.

At the Melbourne event, a man in his late teens was taken to the Western Hospital, where he arrived in a critical condition, an Ambulance Victoria spokesman said.

He remained listed in a serious but stable condition in intensive care on Sunday.

Officers had used drug sniffer dogs as thousands arrived at the event in Flemington.

Police said a total of 66 people were arrested for drug offences at the event, but the vast majority would be put on drug diversion programs.

Only two were charged and bailed while two others are expected to be charged later on summons.

Most of those caught with drugs had been taking ecstasy, though police also found other amphetamines, cocaine and cannabis, a Victoria Police spokeswoman said.

Despite the six suspected overdoses, paramedics praised attendees at the Melbourne event.

“Most people heeded warnings about the risks of taking drugs, behaved responsibly and looked after their mates,” Ambulance Victoria State Health Commander Paul Holman said in a statement.

“Event organisers provided a medical centre on-site, including Ambulance Victoria paramedics. It’s something responsible event organisers do to ensure ambulances aren’t taken away from the community for large events.”

Stereosonic finishes its run on Sunday with an event in Brisbane.

Festival organisers said they were “devastated to hear of another loss to drugs” in a statement published on its Facebook page.

The two deaths come as Victoria is set to review the use of sniffer dogs and if drug-testing should be offered at events during the summer music festival season.

The incidents also prompted Adriana Buccianti, whose 34-year-old son, Daniel, died after taking drugs at a festival in 2012, to renew her own calls for drug testing at festivals.

Her online petition has gained more than 33,000 signatures.