Glastonbury 2024: Attendees warned over dangerous ecstasy pills
With Glastonbury Festival set to take place this coming weekend, attendees have been warned about potentially high-strength ecstasy pills.
While the festival’s website states drugs are “not condoned” at Glastonbury, the reality of stopping people from sneaking illicit goods into events is extremely difficult, even if many are caught with banned substances.
Tragically, drug deaths almost occur on an annual basis during festival season in the United Kingdom. However, safe substance advice charity The Loop, is working hard to allow attendees to test their substances to check if they’re safe for consumption in an attempt to reduce the risk of fatality.
Although taking drugs always comes with a risk attached and reaction’s can differ from person to person, The Loop is aware that words are unlikely to deter people from consuming illegal substances at festivals. Instead, they believe testing is the way forward.
The Loop recently tested drugs at Parklife in Manchester, and discovered that MDMA has grown in strength, hence why they are alerting people before Glastonbury. Adam Waugh, training coordinator of The Loop, told The Guardian: “The safest option is not to take pills. However, if someone is going to take them, it is safer to start with a quarter. Wait at least 90 minutes before re-dosing, and do not assume that pills of a similar design have the same contents.”
He added: “Pills which look very similar can have different contents and be of differing strengths.”
Meanwhile, Professor Fiona Measham, the founder of The Loop, also warned: “It is younger and less experienced festival-goers who came of age during Covid and never experienced the super-strength pills of the 2010s who are particularly at risk.”
Throughout festival season, The Loop has launched the ‘TakeQuarterSipWater’ campaign, which they hope will make those who plan on taking drugs to be extremely careful which they describe as a “harm reduction approach”.
Since 2014, Parklife has been leading the charge regarding drug testing at festivals and has been in partnership with The Loop for a decade. However, the government intervened to stop their licence which was arranged through local authorities before U-turning shortly before the event.
Parklife founder Sacha Lord said: “Drug testing at festivals is undeniably critical, and I am extremely pleased that the Home Office has approved their ongoing use. There is no safe way to take drugs, and so testing quite literally saves lives, and can help uncover new and potentially lethal drugs which may be new to the market.”
Far Out will be on the ground at Worthy Farm to provide coverage directly from Pilton. This year’s event will be headlined by Dua Lipa, Coldplay and SZA.
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