For many years, summer music festivals have served as venues where individuals opt to use psychedelics and other substances. A team of researchers is currently investigating the harm reduction practices implemented at these events and the valuable lessons that can be gleaned 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. She explained to CBC’s Saskatoon Morning that music festivals, being common spaces for the use of such substances, often incorporate harm reduction strategies as a means of looking out for attendees and minimizing risks.
Kenneth Tupper, an adjunct professor at the School of Population and Public Health at the University of British Columbia, is part of the research team involved in this project. He noted that drug checking initiatives originated in Canada within the context of music festivals. Tupper highlighted the emergence of these practices in response to the toxic drug crisis, particularly around 2016 when it was declared a public health emergency in British Columbia. The introduction of a portable FTIR spectrometer by the British Columbia Centre on Substance Use around 2017 revolutionized drug testing at festivals like Shambhala and Bass Coast.
Regina recently hosted its inaugural Exchange Folk Festival. Zandra Kaszas, the artistic director, emphasized the importance of prioritizing harm reduction and safety measures in event preparations. Alongside standard safety protocols including security and hydration stations, the festival collaborated with the Nēwo Yōtina Friendship Centre to set up a naloxone station to address potential overdoses.
Tupper underscored the significance of drug testing services in providing individuals with certainty before making decisions regarding drug use. He also stressed the life-saving potential of counseling services to support individuals in navigating their experiences. The research project led by Dyck aims to document the diverse harm reduction strategies employed at festivals, recognizing the value of preserving this information for future reference and inclusion in ongoing discussions.