Drug Use Policy
Festival Republic does not condone the use of drugs. Drug enforcement laws are as applicable onsite as anywhere else in the UK and it is, therefore, illegal to buy, sell or possess drugs. All drugs are potentially dangerous, there are no harmless drugs. The only way to avoid risks is to not take drugs at all. This goes for new psychoactive substances (formerly known as “legal highs”) as well.
We still want our festival-goers to know that you can come to us for help if you or your friends need it, without fear of getting in trouble at any time.
If you or someone you are with has a bad reaction and needs medical help, talk to the nearest member of staff immediately. Let the medics know what has been taken, we are here to lister, you could save your friend’s life. We guarantee you will not get in trouble. People who are overdosing can go downhill very quickly so don’t delay in seeking help.
if you take drugs and become ill, depressed or concerned, make sure you ask the nearest member of staff to direct you to our Medical Tent or Welfare Tent.
Always be honest with medics and welfare teams about what you have consumed so that they know how best to help you.
Medical
- Main Medical Centre and Pharmacy (24 hours), Baker Lane in Yellow Campsite, by the Arena Gate
- Arena Medical Centre and Pharmacy (11am – midnight), to the left of Main Stage East
- White Campsite Medical Unit (24 hours), This is a smaller unit staffed by nurses, paramedics and first responders. It is set up to deal with minor injuries and illnesses.
Welfare
- Arena – (11am to midnight) – To the left of Main Stage (TLC)
- Yellow Campsite – (24hrs) Baker Lane in Yellow Campsite, by the Arena Gate (TLC)
- White Campsite – (24hrs) Between the Campsite Manager Office and Food Stalls (TLC)
- Purple Campsite – (24hrs) Near the entrance to Green Campsite (The Welfare Crew)
UK Narcotics Anonymous are situated in Purple Campsite, at the entrance to Green Campsite. Their opening hours are:
- Thursday: 2pm-10pm. Meetings: 4pm and 8pm
- Friday-Sunday: 11am-10pm. Meetings: 12pm, 4pm and 8pm
Narcotics Anonymous is a community of people who support each other to achieve and maintain a drug free life. At Reading, you can drop into their tent for a chat and attend scheduled meetings.
Drugs Advice
We do not recommend you take drugs, but if you do please bear the following in mind.
- You don’t know the strength of what you might be taking. You don’t know how your body will react. You can’t tell what you are taking by looking at it. You can’t tell how you will react by the reaction others have had. You can’t tell how quickly it will take effect. Pills and drugs that look exactly the same can be very different. No drugs are safe and there is no safe dose.
- Remember that tolerance levels can vary. You may not have the same tolerance level as your friends. It can also vary depending on whether or not you have eaten beforehand or consumed alcohol. You can always up your dose, but you can’t reduce it. Wait at least 2 hours before taking any more. Start low and go slow.
- There are drugs in circulation in the UK that have very a strong dose of active ingredients.
- There are drugs in circulation in the UK that can take a long time to take effect – don’t assume they are poor quality – they may contain another substance that takes longer to take effect or may have a tougher outer coating that takes longer to dissolve. If you then take more, as a result, you are at increased risk of overdose when the combined doses do kick in. Start low and go slow.
- Mixing drugs with other illegal drugs / alcohol / prescription drugs can be very dangerous and mixing is behind many drug-related deaths.
The main factors in overdose are taking large quantities, very strong drugs, re-dosing quickly, mixing drugs, taking drugs that are not what you thought you were taking or taking drugs with alcohol. - Cheap does not mean weak.
- Pure does not mean safe.
- Treat all drugs as unknown.
- Take regular breaks if you are dancing, exercising or in a hot environment and rehydrate with water or soft drinks – take small sips regularly but don’t drink more than one pint an hour. Have a rest regularly to cool down.
- Having an isotonic drink can help if you have been drinking a lot of water.
- Use in a safe environment, with people you trust and not alone. You are more vulnerable when you are under the influence of drugs so look out for each other. Be open with your friends about what you are taking.
- Ask for help if you need it.
- You can talk to the Welfare Team onsite in confidence at any time and they will have drugs advisory staff to help you. At camping festivals, the Welfare tent is open 24 hours and their location will be advertised on the site maps. Stewards or security will also know where to direct you to.
- It can be tempting to use other substances to help deal with comedowns but think of other ways to help such as eating well and getting enough rest.
- If you do use substances to sleep, sleep on your side and avoid alcohol or other drugs which can depress your breathing (like ketamine, etizolam or benzos) as it can be easy to overdose or choke if you are sick in your sleep.
- If you need help from the medics, we guarantee that neither you nor your friends will get in trouble.
- Ask for help if you need it and don’t wait – getting help early can save lives.
More on Ecstasy deaths
Ecstasy deaths appear to be rising year on year. There appears to be a link with the amount of MDMA found in tablets more recently. In 2005 each pill contained around 80mg of MDMA (an average adult dose is 80-120mg). Average pill strengths are now around 160mg MDMA i.e. twice an average adult dose and pills are frequently tested upwards of 300mg MDMA. In addition, your body weight, hormone levels, using other drugs or alcohol, and your underlying health can all have a significant impact on how you react to a drug. Your friends might have taken the same drug and not had any ill effects. There is no safe dose.
More information on the dangers of mixing drugs
Mixing drugs intensifies the effects of each drug and makes them more dangerous and potentially fatal. Mixing drugs and alcohol is common but alcohol can have a big impact on the way many substances affect you. It could enhance the effects of the first drug but it could also create a dangerous or potentially fatal chemical reaction. Mixing ecstasy with cocaine can increase the high but also increases the risk of cardiac arrest. The more drugs that are used simultaneously including alcohol and including prescription drugs, the greater the risk. DO NOT MIX.
Further information on particular combinations
Alcohol and Ecstasy
Alcohol can moderate the high from ecstasy and increase the intensity of the come down. Both drugs cause dehydration which increases the risk of heatstroke. There is a greater strain on the liver and kidneys which can lead to feeling / being sick. Both drugs impair judgment. Mixing alcohol with ecstasy has played a part in several drugs overdoses at music festivals in recent years.
Alcohol and Cocaine
This combination results in the formation of an entirely new chemical in the body called cocaethylene. This is then associated with liver damage, seizures and immune system damage. Some research suggests that immediate death from cocaethylene is 20 times more likely than from cocaine alone. The impact of alcohol can increase the levels of cocaine in the blood by as much as 30% increasing the strain on the cardiovascular system. There is also an increased likelihood of violent behaviour and suicide.
Alcohol with other stimulants
A combination of alcohol with other stimulants such as ritalin, adderall, amphetamine, some diet pills, some over the counter cold remedies and even some strong energy drinks can also be dangerous. As with cocaine they can obscure the sedating effects of alcohol enabling a person to get dangerously drunk without fully realising. Overheating is more likely which can lead to organ damage and overheating is associated with many drug-related deaths from stimulant drugs including MDMA. A person taking alcohol with these stimulants can lose their inhibitions but be irritable and aggressive.
Alcohol and Ketamine
Mixing alcohol with ketamine or other downers like valium is particularly risky for overdose.
Misuse of Prescription drugs
Prescription drugs are not safe if not used according to the issuing doctor’s instructions. The benzodiazepine (benzo’s) group of drugs – valium, xanax, etizolam, temazepan etc are often used to come down from other drugs such as ecstasy or speed. This is a dangerous combination as the tranquilizers can be numbing and when taken with alcohol the combined depressant effects can cause fatal overdose by inhibiting breathing or slowing down vital organs.
Reading Experiences
In a previous year, an 18-year-old needed intensive care treatment after being found collapsed by his friends at the festival. He had taken several different drugs, making him unconscious. Over the next few hours, his heart rate and temperature went up to unsafe levels, resulting in liver, kidney and muscle failure. Following prolonged treatment, he recovered but needed repeat blood tests for some time. He was very unwell, but luckily his friends got medical help. He now has no memory of his four day stay in hospital. The most important lesson for him was seeing the effect his drug-taking had on his friends and family, who thought he was going to die.
Please think twice before taking drugs, as sometimes, despite the doctors’ best efforts, the drug effects are too severe, and they can’t stop the multi-organ failure resulting in death.
Please visit Talk To Frank for more information.