Personal responsibility – solution to staying safe at festivals
Personal responsibility definitely plays a part in staying safe at festivals. There are many different elements at a music festival that could lead to bad decision making, while dodgy drugs have also been a culprit of injuring those who take them at parties.
The Stereosonic festival has had some bad press over the last two weeks. There have been a few arrests and multiple people have been hospitalized. With huge crowds of people getting loose on booze and narcotics it can be tricky to keep a lid on all that is going on in order to keep the partygoers safe.
The dangers have always been there and will continue to be there for the most part as long as these drugs are illegal. Australia is allegedly experiencing an MDMA epidemic and an ER doctor in Australia, Dr. David Caldicott, recommends that pill tests be made widely and readily available at music festivals and to the general public; such as in Switzerland where this practise is being carried out. This is a solid concept and one that will also require personal responsibility on the side of the party goer.
“For example, in Zurich they bring a shipping container of forensic equipment to Europe’s largest rave… and allow people to come and submit their product for testing.” Said Dr. Caldicott
In order to have a good time at any party one has to first feel safe. Nobody generally pays for a ticket and takes a long drive to a festival in order to end up arrested, in hospital or at the worst dead.
Going up to strangers at a festival and asking for drugs is a pretty bad idea too. But, a lot of rookie party goers still do this. At least with a pill testing device you will find out before hand if you were about to poison yourself.
Personal responsibility and knowing what you’re getting yourself into is a good way to stay alive. That along with policy change and cultural attitudes towards drugs are what will help keep ravers safe.
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