A brand new examine revealed within the Hurt Discount Journal analyzing drug-checking practices at music festivals has revealed a posh net of limitations stopping attendees from testing substances for security.
The analysis surveyed 227 attendees of Sonic Bloom, a four-day EDM pageant in Colorado, about their use of drug-checking instruments, together with reagent check kits and fentanyl check strips. Permitted by Colorado State College’s Institutional Evaluation Board, the findings recommend that whereas drug-checking instruments signify a promising hurt discount technique, a number of systemic challenges restrict their effectiveness in real-world settings like music festivals.
The examine highlights a scarcity of schooling about testing procedures, which has led to “a vital want to cut back limitations” for the “at-risk inhabitants” of festival-goers regardless of a rise in public well being campaigns about substance contamination.
Monetary limitations emerged as a major concern, with almost 8% of contributors citing the price of reagent check kits as prohibitive, whereas about 7% discovered fentanyl check strips too costly. Extra considerably, roughly one in 4 contributors struggled to acquire testing supplies in any respect.
“No entry to free check strips in my complete county,” mentioned one 28-year-old lady surveyed within the examine.
Even when attendees possessed testing supplies, the pageant environments themselves created obstacles. Climate circumstances, notably wind, made out of doors testing particularly troublesome for powdered substances. Greater than 11% of contributors cited pageant restrictions as limitations, noting that many occasions prohibit drug-checking companies or ban testing provides solely.
“Some festivals don’t enable testing equipment gross sales or the doorway of them—this needs to be allowed to curate a greater expertise,” mentioned one respondent.
The dearth of safe, sterile testing areas at festivals additional difficult efforts to examine substances safely. A number of contributors expressed frustration with having to conduct testing in uncovered, unsanitary circumstances.
Authorized considerations additionally deterred some festival-goers from utilizing testing instruments. Contributors reported confusion concerning the legality of possessing reagent kits and fentanyl strips, with some believing the supplies may very well be categorised as drug paraphernalia.
“In some states it is a felony to hold check kits,” famous a 31-year-old participant, although the authorized standing of testing supplies varies considerably by jurisdiction.
You could find the total examine within the Harm Reduction Journal.
