WayHome organizers have revised their policies and will now be allowing festivalgoers to bring their own naloxone kits on site.
Last week, an Ottawa woman named Maegan Mason raised concerns after she was told that the overdose antidote kits couldn't be carried onto the event grounds. Reps for the festival assured attendees that the trained medical professionals on site would be equipped with the life-saving naloxone antidote (also known by the brand name Narcan), and argued that allowing patrons to bring in syringes filled with untested substances was a security risk.
Now, organizers and safety-concerned festivalgoers have reached a compromise. As CBC reports, attendees will be able to bring their own syringe-administered doses of the medication and swap it for the nasal spray equivalent at the festival gates.
"In an effort to meet the concerns of those in possession of injectable naloxone kits, we will now be offering the spray in exchange for the injectable alternative at the gate," Republic Live's Todd Jenereaux explained in a statement released yesterday (July 25).
"I think everyone is just going to feel safe and more people are going to feel even more inclined to bring nalaxone cause they know they can bring it," Mason told CBC. "It's all around a really good solution."
On average, Ontario currently experiences two opioid-related deaths per day; as such, naloxone kits are currently available for free in the province for particular individuals. Find full information about the antidote and how to obtain a kit here.
As previously reported, WayHome will run from July 28 to 30 at Burl's Creek Event Grounds. This year's festival is also honouring passes from the failed Fyre Festival, as well as the cancelled Pemberton Music Festival.
Last week, an Ottawa woman named Maegan Mason raised concerns after she was told that the overdose antidote kits couldn't be carried onto the event grounds. Reps for the festival assured attendees that the trained medical professionals on site would be equipped with the life-saving naloxone antidote (also known by the brand name Narcan), and argued that allowing patrons to bring in syringes filled with untested substances was a security risk.
Now, organizers and safety-concerned festivalgoers have reached a compromise. As CBC reports, attendees will be able to bring their own syringe-administered doses of the medication and swap it for the nasal spray equivalent at the festival gates.
"In an effort to meet the concerns of those in possession of injectable naloxone kits, we will now be offering the spray in exchange for the injectable alternative at the gate," Republic Live's Todd Jenereaux explained in a statement released yesterday (July 25).
"I think everyone is just going to feel safe and more people are going to feel even more inclined to bring nalaxone cause they know they can bring it," Mason told CBC. "It's all around a really good solution."
On average, Ontario currently experiences two opioid-related deaths per day; as such, naloxone kits are currently available for free in the province for particular individuals. Find full information about the antidote and how to obtain a kit here.
As previously reported, WayHome will run from July 28 to 30 at Burl's Creek Event Grounds. This year's festival is also honouring passes from the failed Fyre Festival, as well as the cancelled Pemberton Music Festival.
