Pubdate: Fri, 17 Aug 2012
Source: Province, The (CN BC)
Copyright: 2012 Postmedia Network Inc.
Contact: http://www2.canada.com/theprovince/letters.html
Website: http://www.theprovince.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/476
Author: Stephanie Ip

DRUGS AN ISSUE AT SHAMBHALA

The death this week of a 23-year-old man due to an apparent overdose 
at the Shambhala Music Festival has sparked a heated online debate 
about drug use at such events.

Mitchell Joseph Fleischacker of Sidney died en route to hospital 
after collapsing early Sunday at the festival near Salmo. According 
to police, he was believed to have been "suffering from a drug over-dose."

Shambhala, a five-day electronic music and arts festival that began 
Aug. 8, is held on the privately owned Salmo River Ranch.

The festival website lists alcohol and illegal substances as banned 
items and notes all cars are subject to searches before entering the 
festival's campsite.

Longtime attendees, how-ever, say drug use and drinking have 
increased over the course of the festival's 15-year history due to 
growing attendance - the site holds about 10,000 people.

"Responsibility and moderation are two of the most important things 
to remember when at a festival," Cody Mathis wrote on a Shamb-hala 
Facebook message thread.

Another user e choed Mathis, noting "the first-aid tent would be 
empty if people practised these things."

One user who posted under an alias blasted the heavy use of drugs at 
the festival, noting she was appalled the death occurred at all.

"[It's] really sad that people think they need to take high 
quantities of drugs to have a good time at Shambhala," she wrote. 
"Know your limit, know what [you're] taking and know who [you're] 
taking it from."

Others, however, applauded organizers for their efforts in making the 
festival as safe as possible. Festival-goers are encouraged to use 
the buddy system and to be aware of surroundings and fellow campers.

"Shambhala has made it as safe as they possibly can with a wonderful 
staff of first aid and people you can always talk to and feel 
comfort-able around," wrote Robin Brady.

"There are a lot of people there and it's hard to watch everything 
that's happening when there's over 10,000 people in the same area."

The B.C. Coroners Service is investigating Fleischack-er's death; 
toxicology results have not yet been released.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom