Summer music festivals have long been venues where certain individuals opt to consume psychedelics and other substances.
A team of researchers is investigating the implementation of harm reduction practices at these events and the valuable lessons that can be gleaned from them.
Leading the research effort is Erika Dyck, a history professor at the University of Saskatchewan and a Canada Research Chair specializing in the history of health and social justice. Over the past twenty years, Dyck has dedicated her studies to the exploration of psychedelics.
According to Dyck, music festivals, being hotspots for the use of these substances, are also platforms where harm reduction strategies are frequently put into action. She emphasized to CBC’s Saskatoon Morning that despite their recreational nature, these festivals remain spaces where individuals seek to care for one another and mitigate potential risks.
Part of the research team involved in this project is Kenneth Tupper, an adjunct professor at the School of Population and Public Health at the University of British Columbia. Tupper highlighted that drug checking initiatives first gained traction in Canada within the context of music festivals.
“It gained momentum in Canada in response to the toxic drug crisis around 2016, which was declared a public health emergency in British Columbia,” explained Tupper.
The British Columbia Centre on Substance Use introduced a cutting-edge tool, an FTIR spectrometer, for drug testing purposes around 2017. Due to its portability, it became an ideal solution for use at festivals like Shambhala and Bass Coast, among others.
The inaugural edition of the Regina Exchange Folk Festival took place recently. Artistic director Zandra Kaszas stressed the importance of harm reduction and safety measures in the event preparations.
“While we hope for the best, we also want to be prepared,” noted Kaszas.
In addition to standard safety provisions such as security personnel, hydration stations, and on-site medical assistance, the Nēwo Yōtina Friendship Centre (NYFC) was present at the festival with a naloxone station to address potential overdoses.
Tupper underscored that drug testing services offer individuals a sense of certainty before making decisions regarding drug use. Providing counseling to help individuals navigate their experiences can also be life-saving, he added.
Regina’s Nēwo Yōtina Friendship Centre continues to provide a safe environment for drug consumption. Operating for three years under a temporary exemption to the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act, it is one of the few federally-approved sites in the province, alongside Prairie Harm Reduction in Saskatoon.
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