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

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  06 May 2019

Matthew Brendan Munn
Affiliation:
UBC Emergency Medicine, Vancouver, Canada
Melissa Sydney White
Affiliation:
UBC Southern Medical Program, Kelowna, Canada
Alison Hutton
Affiliation:
University of Newcastle, Australia
Sheila Turris
Affiliation:
UBC Emergency Medicine, Vancouver, Canada
Haddon Tabb
Affiliation:
UBC Mass Gathering Medicine Interest Group, Canada
Adam Lund
Affiliation:
UBC Emergency Medicine, Vancouver, Canada
Jamie Ranse
Affiliation:
UBC Mass Gathering Medicine Interest Group, Canada
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Abstract

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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.

Type
Poster Presentations
Copyright
© World Association for Disaster and Emergency Medicine 2019