A Legitimate Approach to Stop Festival Deaths From Happening [Op-Ed]

Since Electric Zoo Day 3 was cancelled and now Future Music Festival Asia has been cancelled due to six deaths being reported, it’s apparent that some big changes need to be made in order to stop these deaths from continuing at EDM shows and festivals across the world. While I’m not here to lecture on the dangers of drug use or how you don’t need drugs to enjoy the music, the fact of the matter is: drugs need to be used responsibly or we won’t be able to enjoy music festivals like we should. For example, one of the number one complaints of Lights All Night this year was that it felt like a prison due to drastically high security measures like undercover cops pulling people out of the crowd left and right for suspicion of drug use. Also, it’s ruining the already tarnished reputation of the electronic dance music scene.

We all want to rave in a safe and happy environment, and although some choose to take drugs, it doesn’t mean that we can’t maintain a positive environment to enjoy ourselves in; we just need to be more responsible about it. The number one reason people die because of drug use is the lack of education, so I am here to offer you all a legitimate approach to stop festival deaths from happening.

1) Don’t Buy Drugs From Strangers

Sure, we’re all a PLUR family, and raves are simply a gathering of 200,000 of your closest friends, all sharing positive vibes and a common love for music, right? WRONG. Music festivals, while a glorious haven of bass and lights, are still a commercial entity set in place to make money and there will be people there that bought their ticket just to make a quick buck off of a naive raver looking to “get weird”. Whether it’s ecstasy, molly, shrooms, or LSD: do not buy drugs from strangers. Even if one of your friends picks something up while in the festival, don’t take it unless you have a test kit handy and can find out exactly what’s in it.

This might sound like a no-brainer but one of the top reasons people die due to drug-related deaths is that they don’t know what exactly they’re taking and therefore are unable to dose themselves properly.

Flying into a festival in a city you’ve never been to? Afraid you won’t find any in time, and looking to put your faith in the locals? Remember, there are people looking out for tourists and they have no pains in selling you something that could be bunk or worse, dangerous. Above all, follow your gut in any situation where you put your trust in people you aren’t familiar with.

2) Know EXACTLY What You’re Taking

Even if your guy swears up and down that it’s “pure MDMA”, don’t take his word for it. Chances are, he’s just reiterating what his guy told him and so forth. Unless you get it directly from the source (and I mean the SOURCE), test it. Just because your best friend’s cousin’s brother’s wife’s little sister’s boyfriend said it was awesome, there is no reason you should put anything in your body you aren’t 100% sure of.

Would you trust a restaurant that doesn’t have a menu, but just one item that may be a mystery and always changes? You’d probably be hesitant and have a lot of questions for what you’re eating, so why wouldn’t you do the same with drugs?

So in short, test your stuff. Then you’ll feel a million times better when you can actually prove your guy right (or wrong). This kit is only 20 bucks and can be used up to 50 times.

3) Don’t Mix and Match

At the beginning of the day, before you go into the festival or start raging, figure out how much you’re going to take and stick with it. Don’t decide halfway through the day that you’re going to take more or some of something else. Let’s say you take your allocated dose and it hasn’t hit you yet, taking more is extremely dangerous. Most drug overdoses happen because of “double dosing” which occurs when someone has already taken their substance and decides to take more because they’ve forgotten or can’t feel what they’ve already taken.

If you choose to do drugs at a festival, do not mix it with alcohol. If you decide to drink at a festival, don’t do drugs. Apart, they can be the recipe for a wonderful time. Together, they are a lethal combination. I personally think drinking alcohol in general at events is a horrible and expensive idea, but if you choose to, don’t take any other substances afterwards.

Also, whatever type of drug you choose to do, don’t mix it with other drugs unless you know how your body will handle the combination. If you decide you want to, try it out first with small doses. Don’t get messed up on one substance just to take another, it might send you over the edge (and not in a good way).

4) Know Your Limits

A music festival is not a place to go balls to the wall and get as messed up as possible, and I’m starting to think many people misunderstand that. A music festival is a gathering of some of the most prestigious talent, entertainment, and art from around the world. So why don’t we treat them that way? Why do some people treat music festivals like a giant trashcan/bathroom and get as annihilated as humanly possible? Because they don’t know their limits.

Only once you know your limits, can you safely surpass them. (Really think about that) Usually it’s the opposite, people take an insane amount of drugs thinking that it’s the norm, but that is very dangerous and another huge reason people die from drug-related deaths.

This also ties hand in hand with knowing when you need to take a break. There is nothing shameful or wrong with sitting down during a set, or even the entire day. Which brings me to my next point:

5) Take Care of Yourself, Your Friends, Your Community of Ravers

Music festivals are tough on the body, it’s the equivalent of running a marathon (for three-four days straight). This has been hashed and rehashed, but it is still a valid point and many people still don’t abide by it. Take care of yourself. Know that you aren’t in an everyday situation, or better yet, know that you still need to survive after the festival.

This might sound like common sense, and I might sound like a broken record. However, dehydration and sun stroke are very common reasons people die at music festivals. Easy ways to take care of yourself and your friends at a music festival:

– Drink more water than you normally would (even if you aren’t doing drugs, keep a water bottle or camelbak with you at all times. If it’s hot and you’re dancing, you need water) But remember, over-hydration can be just as dangerous.

– Eat several times a day (even if you don’t feel like eating, your body needs the nutrients. Trail mix, granola bars, and smoothies are great for music festivals)

-Take vitamins (remember your body is on full festival mode, and it is literally sucking the life out of you. Cut your recuperation time in half by taking vitamins at least a week before and after the event)

-Don’t dance til you pass out (Take a freakin’ break once in awhile, will ya?)

-Sleep when you can (Whether it’s a dusk til dawn festival like EDC Vegas or an all-day event with camping like Counterpoint, don’t be a hero. Get some rest, your body will thank you for it)

We know you’ve been looking forward to this event for months, and it may be your only opportunity to let loose from your 9-5 and real life stuff, but these steps are really simple and will only help you sustain so you can rage that extra bit harder. There is no shame in taking a break between sets, or getting water when you need to. Remember: your body will let you know what it needs, all you need to do is listen.

Also, look out for your friends. Especially if several people in your group are taking drugs, make sure you have at least one sober buddy that can come to the rescue if they need to. If you don’t have a sober buddy, Medical Tents are there to keep you safe, not to incriminate you. If you see someone that looks like they need help, alert a medic, you could be saving that person’s life.

6) Seek Out Festivals that Accommodate for a Safe Environment

Everyone knows that some festivals do more for their patrons than others. I’m not here to bash or call out those festivals that aren’t safe, but I will definitely highlight those that are.

Camping festivals are a great place to experiment, because your “home” is right there next to the festival. Sure if you’re really having a bad time, it might be uncomfortable, but if you’ve packed properly you will have everything you need right at your finger tips. Also being outdoors is very cleansing for the soul, and will help with feelings of freedom and inner peace that most seek out while taking drugs. Look for events that allow S.A.F.E. Trip or Bunk Police, they are a community group there to hand out test kits and take care of people who may need some extra help.

Check out our article on festivals with the most elbow room for making your summer festival decisions as well, having space to dance and move around is key for a great festival experience (even if you aren’t taking drugs).

7) Drugs are Bad, MMkay?

Again, I’m not here to preach or lecture anyone on whether or not they want to take drugs at festivals. But I will make one final point on this subject, drugs are not what music festivals are centered around and they need to stop being treated that way. Music is the center, and should be the reason we spend hundreds of dollars on ticket prices and travel arrangements to enjoy these events. So enjoy them. It’s really difficult to remember and enjoy all of the implements put into festivals when you’re zonked out of your mind. (If you just want to get that messed up, might as well save a few hundred bucks and just do it at home)

If you can’t go to a music festival sober, then I will question your prerogative for wanting to attend in the first place. Maybe it’s the only place you and your friends can feel free, maybe you love the music, and maybe some take drugs to compliment the experience. But that’s all they should be used for: to compliment. Not to center your experience around, and not to be a priority when planning your next festival.

Also, drugs can be very dangerous and are not something to play with. If you don’t know what you’re taking or how you’re going to handle it, don’t take it in a public place with hundreds of thousands of people who may also be messed up. Music festivals can be a dangerous environment when people don’t know what to expect, and don’t know their limits.

So please, be responsible. Take care of your friends, don’t buy drugs from strangers, and above all: Don’t ever feel pressured into doing something you don’t want to just because you think everyone else is doing it and it’s the only way to enjoy it.Take it from me, they aren’t and it isn’t. There is so much more to see at music festivals when you have a clear head and a healthy body to truly enjoy it.

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