Pubdate: Sun, 09 Aug 2015
Source: Calgary Herald (CN AB)
Copyright: 2015 Postmedia Network
Contact:  http://www.calgaryherald.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/66
Authors: Annalise Klingbeil and Sammy Hudes
Page: A3

MUSIC FEST OVERDOSES SEND 17 TO HOSPITAL

Patients Reportedly Ingested Large Amounts of Alcohol, Illicit Substances

Different substances will have different effects on the body at 
different times, even if ingested by the user on prior occasions.

Seventeen people suffered drug or alcohol overdoses at a Calgary 
outdoor music festival and were rushed to hospital on the weekend.

The patients were taken on Friday and Saturday from the two-day 
Chasing Summer Festival, which was held at Fort Calgary and 
advertised as Western Canada's largest electronic music event.

EMS transported 10 women and seven men, ranging in age from 18 to mid 
30s, in a range of conditions. One woman in her early 30s was in 
potentially life-threatening condition, five people were listed in 
serious but stable condition, and 11 patients were in stable condition.

Many of the patients in stable condition were uncooperative and 
aggressive to first responders and required physical or chemical 
restraint, and assistance from Calgary Police, to ensure their 
safety, according to EMS.

"We need people to understand the risk that they're undertaking if 
they ingest these substance under any circumstance, regardless of if 
it's in the context of a rave or festival," said EMS spokesman Stuart Brideaux.

"In one instance, we saw someone in hospital in potentially 
life-threatening condition simply from making this choice at this festival."

It's not clear how many of the 17 patients remained in hospital Sunday.

In most instances, the patients had ingested large amounts of alcohol 
and at least one other illicit substance, Brideaux said.

The illicit substances included: MDMA ( ecstasy), marijuana, and in 
some cases cocaine, GHB or Ketamine.

"It's particularly dangerous when people are mixing drugs with 
alcohol or other drugs," Brideaux said. "They may have no idea what 
effect it might have."

Brideaux said most of the patients in serious condition had trouble 
breathing and some were unresponsive.

"Without medical intervention, these medical complications carried an 
extremely high risk of worsening, posing potentially life-threatening 
situations," EMS said in a news release.

Dave Johnston, creative director of Union Events, which puts on 
Chasing Summer, said in an email that the organization is awaiting 
further information about these incidents "and will have further 
comment at that time."

The patients were divided among four area hospitals so as not to 
overburden one hospital.

Brideaux said most of the patients taken to hospital seemed to 
understand what substances they had taken and how much, and there 
were no instances of a patient being suspicious they had been given a 
substance unknowingly.

Brideaux said that in many instances, patients told medical officials 
they had taken the same illicit substances in the past without any 
medical complications.

In the wake of the 17 overdoses, EMS is reminding the public there 
are no safe or prescribed doses for recreational street drugs and 
that illicit street drugs are unpredictable.

"Different substances will have different effects on the body at 
different times, even if ingested by the user on prior occasions," 
EMS stated in a news release.

In 2014, Chasing Summer was among a string of music festivals across 
Canada in which multiple patients were hospitalized with illnesses 
following drug overdoses. Last summer, there were five deaths at 
music festivals across the country.

In June, the Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse released a report 
highlighting its recommendations to prevent further alcohol and drug- 
related harm during these events. The centre recommended campaigns to 
educate the public and other music festivals about ongoing and new 
drug risks, among other proposals.

Johnston told the Herald in June that many recommendations included 
in the report are already the practises of Chasing Summer. He said 
Chasing Summer has "a zero tolerance policy" when it comes to alcohol 
and drug abuse.

"Personal responsibility would be a really good start on behalf of 
patrons. One of our big messages that we have for people is to look 
after yourself and look out for each other," Johnston said at the time.

"Don't do anything stupid. Don't do anything that you'd be 
embarrassed or ashamed of. We can't hold the hands of 15,000 people."
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom