An Effective Risk Minimization Strategy Applied to an Outdoor Music Festival

What is it about?

Young adult patrons are vulnerable to risk-taking behavior, including drug taking, at outdoor music festivals. Therefore, the aim of this field report is to discuss the on-site medical response during a music festival, and subsequently highlight observed strategies aimed at minimizing substance abuse harm. The observed outdoor music festival was held in Canberra (Australian Capital Territory [ACT], Australia) during the early summer of 2016, with an attendance of 23,008 patrons. First aid and on-site medical treatment data were gained from the relevant treatment area and service. The integrated first aid service provided support to 292 patients. Final analysis consisted of 286 patients’ records, with 119 (41.6%) males and 167 (58.4%) females. Results from this report indicated that drug intoxication was an observed event issue, with 15 (5.1%) treated on site and 13 emergency department (ED) presentations, primarily related to trauma or medical conditions requiring further diagnostics. This report details an important public health need, which could be met by providing a coordinated approach, including a robust on-site medical service, accepting intrinsic risk-taking behavior. This may include on-site drug checking, providing reliable information on drug content with associated education.

Featured Image

Why is it important?

Providing a drug-checking service would not require a radical shift in national drug policy, though would require cooperation between health and law enforcement stakeholders. On-site opportunistic education and health promotion should be attended at every opportunity, especially in the space most occupied by specific cohorts. While Vermeulen-Smit, et al noted that family interventions targeting parent-child dyads are likely to be effective, particularly in reducing the use or take up of marijuana, they also note that illicit drug use appears to be more influenced by other factors.Such interventions, as attended by the integrated youth workers and acute health care provision element, may be the factor required to influence safe youth/young adult decision making. Recognition and acceptance of inherent risk-taking behavior, in the cohort of those attending music festivals (or in the youth/young adult cohort in general), supporting a multi-agency initiative aimed at minimizing substance abuse harm, should be a mainstay of event health planning.

Perspectives