Summer music festivals have long been venues where individuals opt to use psychedelics and other substances. A team of researchers is investigating the harm reduction practices employed at these events and the valuable lessons that can be derived from them. Erika Dyck, a history professor at the University of Saskatchewan and a Canada Research Chair in the history of health and social justice, has dedicated the past two decades to studying psychedelics. According to Dyck, music festivals, being common settings for the use of these substances, are also where harm reduction techniques are frequently applied.
Kenneth Tupper, an adjunct professor at the School of Population and Public Health at the University of British Columbia, forms part of the research team involved in this initiative. Tupper noted that drug checking initiatives were first introduced in Canada within the context of music festivals. The British Columbia Centre on Substance Use introduced a portable FTIR spectrometer around 2017 for drug testing at festivals like Shambhala and Bass Coast.
The inaugural Regina Exchange Folk Festival, held this month, prioritized harm reduction and safety measures in its planning. Zandra Kaszas, the festival’s artistic director, emphasized the importance of being prepared for potential incidents despite hoping they would not occur. In addition to standard safety protocols such as security and hydration stations, the festival collaborated with the Nēwo Yōtina Friendship Centre (NYFC) to provide naloxone services for overdose emergencies.
Tupper highlighted the significance of drug testing services in offering individuals clarity before making decisions regarding drug use. Providing counseling to assist individuals in navigating their experiences can be crucial in saving lives, he added. The research project spearheaded by Dyck aims to document the harm reduction strategies employed at festivals to build a valuable repository of knowledge for future reference and inclusion in ongoing discussions.
The study intends to compile an archive of these practices, as they are not typically preserved in conventional archives but offer valuable insights for future considerations and enhancements in harm reduction efforts.