Festival drug-testing shows a way to reduce harm
When they discover what is in their drugs, users tend to take less of them
AS THOUSANDS of young people danced in the sun at Britain’s Mutiny Festival on Saturday, two partygoers lay dying. Another dozen or so were sent to hospital. All are thought to have reacted badly to illegal drugs—and they will not be the last such casualties of the year. The death rate in Britain from ecstasy, a popular festival drug, is at its highest-ever level. Meanwhile deaths from opioids are on the rise across the rich world, particularly in America, where overdoses now kill more people than either cars or guns.
This article appeared in the Leaders section of the print edition under the headline “Just say know”
More from Leaders
How to improve clinical trials
Involving more participants can lead to new medical insights
Houthi Inc: the pirates who weaponised globalisation
Their Red Sea protection racket is a disturbing glimpse into an anarchic world
Donald Trump will upend 80 years of American foreign policy
A superpower’s approach to the world is about to be turned on its head
Rising bond yields should spur governments to go for growth
The bond sell-off may partly reflect America’s productivity boom
Much of the damage from the LA fires could have been averted
The lesson of the tragedy is that better incentives will keep people safe
Health warnings about alcohol give only half the story
Enjoyment matters as well as risk