A substance abuse specialist says music festivals should offer quiet spaces for people having a bad reaction to drugs or alcohol so they can sober up.

Dr. Matthew Young's made the comments after 17 people needed emergency medical treatment related to drugs and alcohol last weekend at the Chasing Summer Music Festival at Fort Calgary.

The senior researcher at the Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse said it's important for people who are having an adverse reaction to certain illegal substances have access to a quiet place where they can pull themselves together.

"Somebody who may be experiencing some alcohol or drug-related harms that may not require medical attention but just need to gather themselves can get away and gather themselves," said Young. "And that these places should be staffed with maybe peer-support workers who could kind of scan the crowd look for those who may be experiencing some complications or some difficulties."

Young said there as many as 250 new synthetic drugs showing up at music festivals and on the streets, making it difficult to figure the symptoms.

He also said that people who are using illegal drugs or who had too much to drink may not seek medical attention because they're worried about "getting in trouble."

"And so one of things that we recommend is don't delay seeking medical attention immediately; your health is more important than anything else."