Staying safe this festival season.

The safest way to take drugs is not at all. However we understand that some students may choose to try them, and that it is often common-place at music festivals.

If you are taking drugs, it’s vital you stay informed. Manchester Drug Analysis and Knowledge Exchange (MANDRAKE) chemically analyse drugs at key events and nightclubs across the city. They share alerts on their Instagram and Twitter when super strength drugs are in circulation or when substances are being mis-sold or have contaminants in them. Be sure to follow them to stay in the know.

Harm reduction

Here’s some tips for staying safe this festival season:

• Pace yourself! Go slow and stay low with alcohol and other drugs. Don’t feel pressured into doing anything you aren’t comfortable with. You know your limits better than anyone.
• Stick with your mates and make sure to look out for each other. If you’re in a really crowded area, make sure to arrange a meeting point (e.g. by the toilets or festival entrance) in case someone gets lost and can’t be reached by phone – we all know signal at festivals is famously slow.
• Try to avoid drinking so much that you blackout or become unaware of your surroundings. To help, make sure you’re drinking lots of water to keep hydrated and balance your alcohol levels.
• If you’re having a bad time or struggling but don’t feel you need medical attention, visit the onsite welfare team. Most (if not all) festivals will have a dedicated team to help in these situations so find out where they’re located as soon as you arrive. You won’t get in trouble, so don’t be afraid to go to them if in need of a little extra support.
• Always be honest with medics and welfare teams about what you’ve consumed so that they know how best to help you.
• Beware of mixing different substances and/or alcohol. For example alcohol and ketamine can be a potentially lethal combination.
• If there is a drug testing service at the festival, use it. The illegal drug market is unregulated meaning that substances can vary greatly in purity and strength. Home drug testing kits can also be bought online and can be useful when there is no access to a full lab test. Although they cannot eliminate risk entirely, if used carefully and with awareness of the limitations, they can be a valuable harm reduction tool and may help people make a more informed decision.

Useful links

The Loop: Read more harm reduction advice about the following drugs: ecstasy, mephedrone, cocaine, amphetamine, ketamine, cannabis, LSD, magic mushrooms, GHB/GBL.

Festival Safe: Lots of useful information to make yours a festival to remember – for all the right reasons!

Talk to FRANK: Friendly, confidential drug advice.

Be Drink Aware: Information to make informed decisions about the effects of alcohol on your life and lifestyle.

Staying safe on nights out: Read our advice to help you stay mindful on nights out in Manchester.