How do we tackle drug use at music festivals?

Embargoed until: Publicly released: 2021-11-19 03:00

Australia; NSW; VIC; TAS

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Drug use at music festivals is common and we need better-targeted messaging on the risks, according to Aussie researchers whose survey found the presence of police and drug dogs could be influencing high-risk behaviour. The team surveyed 1,229 festival-goers and found a third used or planned to use drugs at the festival. Five higher-risk drug behaviours: preloading; double-dropping; high-risk alcohol use alongside drug use; high doses of MDMA; and mixing stimulants was found to be most common among males and first-time drug users. Police presence often led people to ‘panic overdose’ to avoid getting caught, the survey found. The team suggests more targeted education initiatives to prevent risky behaviours, as well as a change in the way law enforcement approaches drug use at festivals, and a wider adoption of pill testing.