“Relax zones” and drug prevention stands at festivals: “We observe the arrival of a new drug on the market”

“We set up ‘relaxing areas’ at different festivals such as Esperanzah, SEMO or DOUR. Moreover, These are spaces. For example, with beds, to take care of people in overconsumption or who are victims of discomfort“Explains Robin Drevet, coordinator at Modus Vivendi.”It is a non -medical space where we take care of people who are not in absolute vital emergency. Consequently, We are therefore aimed at people who make a bad trip. However, who have an overdose, and that we keep under observation for a few hours. However, Rather than sending them to hospitals. Similarly, they are taken care of with social workers and a nurse or doctor to monitor his condition. “

3000 festival -goers at the hospital – "relax zones" drug prevention stands

In Dour, around 3000 people are sent to hospitals each year. “”This may concern people with “relax zones” drug prevention stands overconsumption of drugs but also people who have a twisted ankle, an insolation, etc. Relaxation areas are not for people who have consumed drugs “embraie Patrice Degobert. body chief of the Polyce area of Dour.

200 rescuers mobilized at the Dour Festival. in addition to an urgent psychosocial intervention service: “It is a shoulder on which to rely”

At its Brussels headquarters, the ASBL Modus Vivendi organizes a permanence every Friday to verify components of such or such drug. “”The idea is to check the composition of the product. see, for example, the dose of MDMA that there is in a pill to avoid overdoses. We have also done so on the Festival Nature website (which was held on the last weekend in June. editor’s note) But have no longer received an authorization to offer other festivals this year “, Ajoute Robin drive.

“No question of encouraging consumption”

In addition to cannabis. ketamine, ecstasy or cocaine, Robin Drevet observes an important arrival of Cathinons. “This is a product on the market for a dozen years. New derivatives have arrived, including the Mamédrone, called 4mmc, a stimulant between cocaine and MDMA”, he continues.

Behind the scenes of the Dour Festival. a week before the start

The maiden is in the form of a more or less fine white powder depending on the origin. This powder can also be packaged in the form of pills or tablets. It is increasingly consumed in a recreational way.

No question, however, of encouraging festival -goers to consume drugs. The objective of the ASBL Modus Vivendi is rather to encourage people who want to consume at all costs to become aware of the dangerousness of ingested drugs. the risks involved. “”We advise all festival -goers. whether they consume or “relax zones” drug prevention stands not, to immediately identify the information and prevention stand on the festival site in the event of a problem. Vigilance is all the more bet with the expected heat peaks which can cause hyperthermia by toxic substances which quickly dehydrate “. concludes Robin Drevet.