scholarly journals Drug checking at an electronic dance music festival during the public health overdose emergency in British Columbia

2018 ◽  
Vol 109 (5-6) ◽  
pp. 740-744 ◽  
Author(s):  
Silvina C. Mema ◽  
Chloe Sage ◽  
Yuhui Xu ◽  
Kenneth W. Tupper ◽  
Daniel Ziemianowicz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
British Columbia ◽  
Dance Music ◽  
Electronic Dance Music ◽  
Music Festival ◽  
The Public ◽  
Drug Checking

Observed Benefits to On-site Medical Services during an Annual 5-day Electronic Dance Music Event with Harm Reduction Services

2016 ◽  
Vol 31 (2) ◽  
pp. 228-234 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthew Brendan Munn ◽  
Adam Lund ◽  
Riley Golby ◽  
Sheila A. Turris
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Harm Reduction ◽  
Medical Care ◽  
Electronic Music ◽  
Rural Setting ◽  
Medical Services ◽  
Dance Music ◽  
Electronic Dance Music ◽  
Music Festival ◽  
Medical Response

AbstractBackgroundWith increasing attendance and media attention, large-scale electronic dance music events (EDMEs) are a subset of mass gatherings that have a unique risk profile for attendees and promoters. Shambhala Music Festival (Canada) is a multi-day event in a rural setting with a recognized history of providing harm reduction (HR) services alongside medical care.Study/ObjectiveThis manuscript describes the medical response at a multi-day electronic music festival where on-site HR interventions and dedicated medical care are delivered as parallel public health measures.MethodsThis study was a descriptive case report. Medical encounters and event-related data were documented prospectively using an established event registry database.ResultsIn 2014, Shambhala Music Festival had 67,120 cumulative attendees over a 7-day period, with a peak daily attendance of 15,380 people. There were 1,393 patient encounters and the patient presentation rate (PPR) was 20.8 per one thousand. The majority of these (90.9%) were for non-urgent complaints. The ambulance transfer rate (ATR) was 0.194 per one thousand and 0.93% of patient encounters were transferred by ambulance. No patients required intubation and there were no fatalities.Harm reduction services included mobile outreach teams, distribution of educational materials, pill checking facilities, a dedicated women’s space, and a “Sanctuary” area that provided non-medical peer support for overwhelmed guests. More than 10,000 encounters were recorded by mobile and booth-based preventive and educational services, and 2,786 pills were checked on-site with a seven percent discard rate.ConclusionDedicated medical and HR services represent two complementary public health strategies to minimize risk at a multi-day electronic music festival. The specific extent to which HR strategies reduce the need for medical care is not well understood. Incorporation of HR practices when planning on-site medical care has the potential to inform patient management, reduce presentation rates and acuity, and decrease utilization and cost for local, community-based health services.MunnMB, LundA, GolbyR, TurrisSA. Observed benefits to on-site medical services during an annual 5-day electronic dance music event with harm reduction services. Prehosp Disaster Med. 2016;31(2):228–234.

scholarly journals Does Medical Presence Decrease the Perceived Risk of Substance-Related Harm at Music Festivals?

2019 ◽  
Vol 34 (s1) ◽  
pp. s123-s123 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthew Brendan Munn ◽  
Melissa Sydney White ◽  
Alison Hutton ◽  
Sheila Turris ◽  
Haddon Tabb ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Substance Use ◽  
Perceived Risk ◽  
Medical Services ◽  
Dance Music ◽  
Electronic Dance Music ◽  
Music Festivals ◽  
Music Festival ◽  
Perceptions Of Risk ◽  
Intent To Use ◽  
Initial Hypothesis

Introduction:The use of recreational substances is a contributor to the risk of morbidity and mortality at music festivals. One of the aims of onsite medical services is to mitigate substance-related harms. It is known that attendees’ perceptions of risk can shape their planned substance use; however, it is unclear how attendees perceive the presence of onsite medical services in evaluating the risk associated with substance use at music festivals.Methods:A questionnaire was administered to a random sample of attendees entering a multi-day electronic dance music festival.Results:There were 630 attendees approached and 587 attendees completed the 19 item questionnaire. Many confirmed their intent to use alcohol (48%, n=280), cannabis (78%, n=453), and recreational substances other than alcohol and cannabis (93%, n=541) while attending the festival. The majority (60%, n=343) stated they would still have attended the event if there were no onsite medical services available. Some attendees agreed that the absence of medical services would have reduced their intended use of alcohol (30%, n=174) and recreational substances other than alcohol and cannabis (46%, n=266).Discussion:In the context of a music festival, plans for recreational substance use appear to be substantially altered by attendees’ knowledge about the presence or absence of onsite medical services. This contradicts our initial hypothesis that medical services are independent of planned substance use and serve solely to reduce any associated harms. Additional exploration and characterization of this phenomenon at various events would further clarify the understanding of perceived risks surrounding substance use and the presence of onsite medical services.

A Prospective Analysis of Patients Presenting for Medical Attention at a Large Electronic Dance Music Festival

2016 ◽  
Vol 32 (1) ◽  
pp. 78-82 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matt S. Friedman ◽  
Alex Plocki ◽  
Antonios Likourezos ◽  
Illya Pushkar ◽  
Andrew N. Bazos ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
New York ◽  
Vital Signs ◽  
Medical Attention ◽  
Prospective Analysis ◽  
Mass Gathering ◽  
Dance Music ◽  
Electronic Dance Music ◽  
Music Festival ◽  
Mass Gathering Medicine ◽  
Patient Presentation

AbstractMass-Gathering Medicine studies have identified variables that predict greater patient presentation rates (PPRs) and transport to hospital rates (TTHRs). This is a descriptive report of patients who presented for medical attention at an annual electronic dance music festival (EDMF). At this large, single EDMF in New York City (NYC; New York, USA), the frequency of patient presentation, the range of presentations, and interventions performed were identified.This descriptive report examined consecutive patients who presented to the medical tent of a summertime EDMF held at an outdoor venue with an active, mobile, bounded crowd. Alcohol was available for sale. Entry was restricted to persons 18 years and older. The festival occurred on three consecutive days with a total cumulative attendance of 58,000. Medical staffing included two Emergency Medicine physicians, four registered nurses, and 86 Emergency Medical Services (EMS) providers. Data collected included demographics, past medical history, vital signs, physical exam, drug and alcohol use, interventions performed, and transport decisions.Eighty-four patients were enrolled over 2.5 days. Six were transported and zero died. The ages of the subjects ranged from 17 to 61 years. Forty-three (51%) were male. Thirty-eight (45%) initially presented with abnormal vital signs; four (5%) were hyperthermic. Of these latter patients, 34 (90%) reported ingestions with 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) or other drugs. Eleven (65%) patients were diaphoretic or mydriatic. The most common prehospital interventions were intravenous normal saline (8/84; 10%), ondansetron (6/84; 7%), and midazolam (3/84; 4%).Electronic dance music festivals are a growing trend and a new challenge for Mass-Gathering Medicine as new strategies must be employed to decrease TTHR and mortality. Addressing common and expected medical emergencies at mass-gathering events through awareness, preparation, and early, focused medical interventions may decrease PPR, TTHR, and overall mortality.FriedmanMS, PlockiA, LikourezosA, PushkarI, BazosAN, FrommC, FriedmanBW. A prospective analysis of patients presenting for medical attention at a large electronic dance music festival. Prehosp Disaster Med.2017; 32(1):78–82.

Use of synthetic stimulants and hallucinogens in a cohort of electronic dance music festival attendees

2018 ◽  
Vol 282 ◽  
pp. 168-178 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amanda L.A. Mohr ◽  
Melissa Friscia ◽  
Jillian K. Yeakel ◽  
Barry K. Logan
Keyword(s):  
Dance Music ◽  
Electronic Dance Music ◽  
Music Festival

scholarly journals EDM and Ecstasy: the lived experiences of electronic dance music festival attendees

2017 ◽  
Vol 47 (1) ◽  
pp. 78-95 ◽  
Author(s):  
Noah Little ◽  
Birgitta Burger ◽  
Stephen M. Croucher
Keyword(s):  
Lived Experiences ◽  
Dance Music ◽  
Electronic Dance Music ◽  
Music Festival

A 3E typology of visitors at an electronic dance music festival

2016 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 219-236 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martinette Kruger ◽  
Melville Saayman
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Market Segmentation ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Dance Music ◽  
Electronic Dance Music ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Music Festival ◽  
Different Types ◽  
Visitor Survey

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to determine the motives of visitors to an electronic dance music (EDM) festival in South Africa and clustered the participants according to these motives. Design/methodology/approach Based on a visitor survey at the oldest EDM festival in South Africa, namely, H2O, five motives for attending H2O were identified (fun and dance; novelty; excitement, group identity and entertainment; lifestyle and well-being; and travel and escape), while the results revealed three clusters of EDM festival visitors: enthusiasts, energizers and electros. The results demonstrated that clustering EDM festival visitors based on their motives is a useful market segmentation tool as it yields a clear and direct profile and understanding of different types of attendees and their preferences. Findings The results as well as findings emphasize how EDM events can play a role in expanding tourism, especially youth travel, by hosting more EDM festivals in the country. Originality/value The study proposes a 3E typology of EDM festival visitors that could be applied to other EDM festival and event markets. This research, therefore, makes a clear contribution to the literature on EDM festivals and events and the market that this distinct music genre attracts.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document