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Young people are facing higher risks at UK festivals, as the government makes organisers jump through hoops to provide basic on-site drug testing.
The Loop, a UK drug-testing charity, has been a mainstay of British festivals in recent years.
Parklife festival, in Manchester, has provided drug-testing to attendees via The Loop since 2014. But this year organisers were told they needed a special licence, just days before the festival started.
Parklife ultimately went ahead without The Loop, for the first time in almost 10 years.
This legislative U-turn has in-effect blocked on-site drug testing for various events, forcing those running some of the UKโs largest festivals to jump through unnecessary hoops.
Free drug-testing has been a life-saving addition to festivals, providing young people with more education around drug safety and preventing the circulation of deadly narcotics.
On-site testing facilities have also allowed festival-goers to access emergency services quickly and alert them to possible casualties.
Melvin Benn, managing director of Parklife festival, expressed concern over the governmentโs last-minute call for a special drug-testing licence.
โIf festival organisers fear their safeguarding measures will be pulled at the 11th hour, then how can we guarantee the wellbeing of our guests?โ Benn said.
By refusing to implement drug testing services, the UK government misses a crucial opportunity to educate festival-goers about responsible drug use.
Rather than demonising drug users, harm reduction services emphasise open dialogue, providing information on safe practices, potential risks, and available support networks.
Sacha Lord, the head of Parklife, also shared his worry for festival attendees this year. Lord was only informed about the need for a special licence 48 hours prior to Parklife starting, despite the application process taking months.
โAs it stands now, there is no testing this summer,โ he said.
โI am really, really concerned about the safety of many, many customers.โ
Major figures in the UK music scene have condemned the Home Office for their decision. Fatboy Slim said that effectively blocking on-site drug testing is โshortsighted and dangerousโ, and called for the government to allow the resumption of tests on pills at festival sites.
The openness around drugs at these events has long garnered negative attention, with many arguing that it only normalises and even enables drug use amongst young people.
But the truth is that many young people are going to face substance abuse at some point in their lives. Itโs inevitable. Especially given consistent findings that drug use โ especially in the West โ is on the rise.
