Overdoses Stress Canada Fests

A woman died of a suspected drug overdose and 12 other people were reportedly treated for overdoses during the Boonstock Music Festival in Penticton July 31 through Aug. 4. In a statement, organizers noted the woman “became distressed while dancing at one of our stages. Despite the best efforts of medical professionals, she tragically passed away at the Penticton Regional Hospital. We are deeply saddened by this news and we know that our communities will band together and keep her and her loved ones in our thoughts.”

The Boonstock overdoses came just two weeks after a man died in a campground at the Pemberton Music Festival. An exact cause of death for the man has yet to be determined, although police have ruled out foul play, CTV News reported.

Meanwhile at the Center of Gravity festival in Kelowna, police recorded similar numbers of overdoses although no deaths, the network said.

Police found the Kelowna overdoses so concerning that a statement was issued during the fest that there was “a very real concern for public safety at this event and fear there may be further overdose deaths if attendees do not take steps to safeguard their own health.”

Kelowna police Const. Kris Clark added that keeping festivals drug-free is a nearly impossible task.

“Even the best security companies in the world can search every bag and every pocket and unfortunately people will still find a way of getting illicit substances into an event,” Clark told CTV. “And even if security could find and confiscate every substance entering festival grounds people could still drink or take drugs before arriving.”