Alex Barchesi & Juditta Marinaro - Psychedelics & Festivals

Psychedelics in recreational settings, particularly large-scale music and trance festivals, require specialized harm-reduction frameworks to support attendees. The Safer Festival project provides a model for this support, focusing on benefit enhancement rather than strictly risk mitigation. By offering designated chill-out spaces and professional care, the initiative helps individuals process intense experiences in a safe environment, effectively reducing the burden on festival medical and security staff. Establishing such services involves careful coordination and planning, including the recruitment of trained volunteers and the creation of private spaces. The approach prioritizes empathy, information access, and the normalization of supportive care within festival subcultures, contributing to a safer and more positive overall festival experience.