Safety, Harm-Reduction, and Education: Drug Policy and the EDM Scene

Over 15 people have died at music festivals around the world in the last six months. If you have been keeping up with electronic dance music news, you are aware that “EDM” is the leading genre in the alarming statistic.

While the majority of the deaths are reported as drug overdoses, the fact is that most of these deaths are not from drugs alone. A combination of high temperatures and dehydration play a huge role in these casualties. You probably also know about the measures event organizers have been taking to “prevent” drug overdoes, which is exactly the problem.

There are drugs in every music genre, scene and community, regardless of style. People overdose on drugs every single day in their own homes across the globe. Trying to prevent usage is a tireless and unsuccessful solution.

Education is the answer, not prevention. It’s just not going to happen, no matter how many drug sniffing dogs, surveillance cameras, security checkpoints or items event organizers ban, drugs will always be present.

It’s time for a new approach.

Banning items such as CamelBaks do nothing to aid the epidemic. Are companies really keeping you safe by creating less places to hide illegal substances, or do they just want you to have to pay for water? If anything, festival-goers will take their drugs before entering and maybe even take larger doses to prevent it from “wearing off” during the event.

Charging $5 for water and not allowing refillable containers is absolute insanity.

Most medical emergencies that occur at electronic events are the result of heatstroke. MDMA and other popular stimulants greatly increase a persons risk of heatstroke. When heatstroke occurs, other factors such as aerobic activity like dancing, lack of drinking water, and high temperatures are almost always involved.

Free drinking water, small air conditioned tents, and allowing education/harm-reduction services inside events are the only ways of stop casualties.

Basically, harm-education is this; even though no one wants young people using drugs, some always will. What we must do is adopt a safety-first policy that reduces the risks and harm associated with immediate drug use.

Drug education like this is severely lacking at electronic events because of the 2003 Illicit Drug Anti-Proliferation Act (better known by its earlier name, the Reducing American’s Vulnerability to Ecstasy Act, or the RAVE Act).

Companies are afraid that allowing organizations like DanceSafe inside will “maintain a drug involved premise” leading to prosecution as stated in the RAVE Act of 2003.

(Photo Credit: DanceSafe)

The 2003 RAVE Act is an enormous part of the problem. It prevents the implementation of common sense safety measures at electronic events like free water, air-conditioned tents, and most importantly: educational services.

Help amend the RAVE Act here.

The Reducing American’s Vulnerability to Ecstasy Act, or the RAVE Act, was first introduced by Senator Joseph Biden in 2002. Renamed the Illicit Drug Anti-Proliferation Act, it was passed by Congress the following year. The RAVE Act expanded earlier “crack house” laws to include commercial venues, allowing business owners to be prosecuted if they “maintain a drug-involved premises.”When originally passed, the Act gave law enforcement officials greater power to shut down underground dance parties when promoters were knowingly and intentionally encouraging the use of illicit drugs. However, its current language has created a more dangerous situation today by discouraging legitimate EDM concert and festival organizers from enacting common sense safety measures to protect their patrons. Providing free water and air-conditioned rooms, and allowing drug education and harm reduction services inside their events would save lives. Yet many event organizers are afraid that these actions could be seen as encouraging drug use and therefore subject them to criminal prosecution under the RAVE Act.

None of this means that companies condone the use of drug usage. It’s simply the most realistic approach that has a strong potential to save lives.

A friend recently asked me “why did electronic music suddenly become so popular?”

My simple response, “because people like happy sh*t.”

Put on some Andrew Rayel, GRiZ, Bassnectar, Green Velvet or whatever fits your style and try to not be happy, I dare you.

Research has found that listening to upbeat music increases feelings of happiness. What might be harder to prove through scientific research is that the bonds formed (especially in the electronic scene) through music can last a lifetime.

It’s not uncommon to go to a festival or show with your friends, they’ll dance around with you like no one is watching, walk with you to the bathroom or to get water when you need it. There are plenty of memes circulating the internet about crews merging into one super crew when they meet at events. We often call these our ‘rave family’. No one gets left behind. It sounds cliche, but music unites people, it helps sprout friendships, it helps us as humans through tough times.

I was recently injured in a motor vehicle accident and listening to uplifting electronic music helped me through long days in the hospital. I would request Above & Beyond to be played when I was feeling hopeless. I chose to believe that music helped save my life.

It pains me to know that events with such powerful potential can be canceled due to concern of attendees safety. Drug policy should not endanger public safety, it should ensure it through education. We can absolutely fix this, but we have some work to do in order to save the scene which brings so much bliss to our society.

Still not inspired? Read Shelley’s story and about her mother’s goal to Amend the Rave Act. Sign today, it doesn’t cost a thing.

Tell us your opinion. We want to hear from you.

Share On