Health

Why some music festivals are vetting rather than banning drugs

Reports of bad drugs hospitalizing or even killing kids and young adults seem to be occurring almost daily. One recent B.C. festival, Shambhala, decided not to condemn young drug-takers, but rather to offer information and free testing, Reg Sherren reports.

B.C.'s Shambhala music festival took a different approach to the drug problem

Shambhala Festival | Drug Testing for Safety

9 years ago
Duration 7:39
Shambhala Festival is one of the few music festivals that offers free, no-hassle drug testing for attendees looking for a safe high.
How do you keep the kids safe? That's a question a lot of people, parents especially, have been asking this summer as their children – young adults most of them – head off to music festivals.

Recent reports of bad drugs hospitalizing, or even killing kids and young adults seem to be occurring almost daily.

One British Columbia festival, Shambhala, decided not to attack or arrest or even judge young drug-takers, but rather to offer information and free testing. The aim is to help young people make informed decisions about what they may be about to put in their system.

In the video above, CBC reporter Reg Sherren decided to investigate further to see whether this approach is working.