TORONTO – Organizers of this year’s Veld Music Festival in Toronto have put in place new drug prevention measures following the deaths of two people a year ago.
In addition to having two amnesty boxes at the festival’s main entrance to deposit illicit substances, festival-goers will receive health and safety tips along with a site map highlighting medical, hydration and food stations.
As part of its communication campaign, organizers will also post health and safety information on its website and social media, as well as having video public service announcements aired in between DJ sets.
Volunteers will also be offering outreach booths with peer-to-peer counseling and crisis intervention teams.
Last year, two people died and more than a dozens others were taken to hospital after police said they ingested what were believed to be party drugs purchased at the festival.
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Organizers have said they plan to implement a “drug-use surveillance intelligence system” to track drug trends and identify those that may enter the premises.
“As well, immediately after every event, all security and medical information is collected in order to analyze and learn from each incident,” said INK Entertainment in a media release.
The Veld Music Festival takes place this year between Aug. 1 to 2 at Downsview Park.
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