2023-08-09 14:59:22
Sciensano has come out in favor of safer drug use at festival sites. Less stigmatization to avoid tragedies. The Tomorrowland festival has been bereaved by two deaths this year. Deaths that could be drug-related. – BELGA By Sudinfo with Belga Published on 07/31/2023 at 09:25
Sciensano pleads for raising awareness around the safe use of drugs in festivals instead of an outright ban, the Mediahuis newspapers write on Monday. This reaction from the Institute of Public Health comes after two possible drug-related deaths at Tomorrowland.
Six deaths have occurred at Tomorrowland in the past 11 years, four of which were drug-related. The organization of the festival claims to make every effort to ensure control and security. Sciensano supports these actions but insists on the importance of strengthening prevention and education around drugs, not only within the framework of the festival, but also in our society in general.
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“International studies confirm it: the risks must be reduced by offering festival-goers the possibility of having their drugs checked and by offering them a platform for discussion, for example. Often consumers do not know what they are buying and therefore put themselves at risk. Alerting against certain harmful drugs circulating on the site through dynamic panels can also have a preventive effect,” explains Margot Balcaen, from the Belgian Drug Early Warning System at Sciensano. “Such a harm reduction policy requires an appropriate framework, as it requires intensive cooperation between public health, police forces and social workers. »
The implementation of this kind of measures requires resources, recognizes Margot Balcaen. “But if we are serious about tackling the drug problem, we need to reduce or even remove the stigma around it. »
The Flemish Center for Expertise on Alcohol and Other Drugs (VAD) believes that the organizers of Tomorrowland have taken a big step forward by admitting that the festival could never be drug-free. “This paves the way for awareness-raising measures and risk reduction initiatives,” according to the organization’s director, Katleen Peleman. “For example, festival-goers can be informed through appropriate channels of the risks associated with the combined consumption of different drugs,” she argues.
According to the center of expertise, open communication will also make it easier to seek help in the event of a drug-related problem. Making believe that no drugs are circulating in a festival keeps the person using them from going to the emergency services, for fear of having trouble with the law or being fined, underlines Ms. Peleman. “It is important to seek help immediately and to dare to say what you have taken,” she pleads.
“Narcotics use remains illegal,” MP Kathleen Depoorter (N-VA) recalled after Sciensano’s plea. However, the latter considers that it is necessary to remind “the consumer that there are no safe or healthy drugs”. It also recommends testing drugs seized at festivals and sending warnings in case of danger. The VAD also sees an interest in this measure, pointing out that it is “illogical” that festival-goers are not informed of the potential dangers.
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