MEDIA RELEASE
40 degree weather brings prospect of more festival deaths and call for police to act responsibly
8.12.23
With temperatures predicted to reach 40 degrees this weekend, health and drug policy experts are calling on the NSW government to call off the sniffer dogs to prevent overdose tragedies.
With thousands of partygoers expected to attend the Subsonic festival near Dungog over the weekend, there are fears that aggressive policing, coupled with the extreme heat, will lead to drug overdose deaths.
Research and coronial investigations have repeatedly linked drug detection dog operations to more risky drug-taking behaviour in people in festival settings. Fear of detection by police and invasive strip searches has been shown to lead people to take all their drugs at once.
High temperatures dramatically increase the risks in taking high doses of MDMA.The combination of extreme heat and aggressive policing is a recipe for disaster.
This has led to health and drug policy experts calling on NSW Police Minister Yasmin Catley to call off the sniffer dogs to help people stay safe.
Dr Peta Malins, drug policy expert, RMIT said: “We know that when police deploy drug dogs at events, people panic and take all their drugs at once to avoid detection. If we’re serious about preventing overdose fatalities in these settings, we should stop the aggressive and intimidating policing of people going to festivals.”
Samantha Lee, Senior Solicitor at Redfern Legal Centre said: “We know from the Deputy Coroner’s report into deaths at music festivals that drug dogs, police, strip searches and high temperatures can be a recipe for disaster. If anything, we want young people to ask police for help if they need it and not be scared to reach out when they need it the most.”
“Strip searches are an invasive, humiliating practice. In the majority of cases nothing is found but the young person or child is left with a feeling of deep dread that can stay with them for years.”
Unharm CEO Dr Will Tregoning said: “No one should die having fun with their friends at a festival. NSW police’s aggressive approach to festival policing, in combination with the scorching temperatures expected this weekend is a recipe for disaster. We call on Yasmin Catley to intervene and help prevent unnecessary deaths this weekend.”
Cait Dooley, DanceWize NSW Program Manager said: “Dancewize NSW is calling for NSW Police to cease drug dog operations at festivals. These operations increase risk, particularly in extreme heat conditions like those expected this weekend. Unexpected and unintended consequences of running these operations, particularly around peak ingress times can result in extended delays by patrons in accessing shelter from the heat and overconsumption based on fear of detection.
Unharm campaigns to reform drug laws, replace punishment with health focused support, and reduce the social harms caused by prohibition.
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