One of Australia’s most popular festivals, Rainbow Serpent shared an important message to festival goers this week, touching on the often problematic topic of drug use.
The post comes in the form of a video and open letter to the festival’s 140,000-strong fanbase, and delves into the sheer fact that a chunk of the 15,000 attendees WILL take drugs during their time there, and that there are ways to ensure they do so in the safest possible way.
Read their full letter and watch the video below:
Let’s talk about drugs…
Look it’s never easy to talk about drug use publicly due to the stigma created by decades of failed government policy and a media industry that thrives on sensationalist hyperbole.
However, your lives are way too valuable not to have this conversation and while we wait for our government and law enforcement to acknowledge evidence based strategies that are working so well overseas such as pill testing and scrap the current strategies that so obviously make the situation worse it’s up to us (and yourselves) to try and keep those that choose to take a drug safe.
So, shits and giggles aside we’ve got our serious hat on, so please listen up!
We’ve had two deaths in 20 years that have been avoidable and it’s common knowledge among experts that due to decades of failed government policy we face a much more diverse and difficult drug landscape than ever before.
We will do everything we can within our power to try and keep you all safe during your time with us but until our hands are untied and we can follow the lead of progressive nations around the world we need your help!
No drug is safe, there are risks associated with all of them, including prescription and legal ones!
Educate yourselves, be informed, talk to the experts onsite, follow the 10 Pillars of Festival Safety and don’t be a bystander, LOOK AFTER YOUR MATES!
We have amazing service providers and educators such as government funded DanceWize and Colbrow Medics: Events, Training & Kits within The Nest (our social services area) and they are there to help you.
We want EVERYONE to arrive home safely to their families and loved ones this year!
Remember your power at Rainbow is freedom but what you do in this space affects EVERYONE!
So much love to you all, please share this video message far and wide.
Rainbow Serpent takes place from Jan 26 – 29. For more info on the festival, click here.
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