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Harm Reduction provisions
The Loop
The Loop will not be operating a public drug testing service; however, they will have their drugs education tent on site in Pepperpot Market to offer information and guidance on drugs to our festival goers for free.
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TLC Welfare
Our welfare team is here to offer support and welfare services for anyone who feels they may need it. Please visit them if you are feeling a bit overwhelmed by anything or just need a bit of TLC. They are based next to the medical centre in Pepperpot Market and in Thrutopia.
Medical
There are two 24 hour medical centres onsite. The main medical centre is next to Pepperpot Market near Hidden Woods. The second medical centre is on Hilltop opposite Grand Central. The medical centre in Pepperpot Market runs a fully stocked pharmacy, so they can help with a huge amount of ailments and afflictions, but there will also be a pharmacy available near the entrance of Botanica; If you or a friend find yourselves in urgent need of medical assistance, and cannot make your own way to these medical centres, please find your nearest security, steward or Boomtown representative immediately and they will get one of our mobile teams to you as soon as possible.
Bristol Drugs Project
Based at the campsite hubs and roaming around the campsite they will be providing drugs and alcohol advice and support focusing on how to reduce the risk to festival goers.
Additional Welfare support
There will be stalls across the site offering support and talking services run by charity partners including: The Samaritans, Blink Mental Health, and Cocaine Anonymous. If you are just looking for someone to talk to about how you are feeling, or would like information about ongoing help, these teams are here to listen.
Drop In Sessions
Cocaine Anonymous
Cocaine Anonymous meetings offers a sense of community that is essential for overcoming addiction. Sharing experiences with like-minded individuals can create a sense of belonging and reduce the isolation associated with drug addiction.
Wednesday to Sunday: 11:00 - 12:00 and 18:00 - 19:00
Narcotic Anonymous
NA helps addicts to stop taking drugs, get well and change the quality of their lives. NA offers life support – it is a community of people who have overcome their drug problem, and who are freely available to help those who also have the desire to live life drug-free.
Wednesday to Sunday: 08:00 - 09:00 and 13:00 - 14:00
Vibe Check
Vibe Check is a festival-wide pledge to party smarter and look out for your crew.
It’s all about staying switched on and making sure everyone gets the most out of the Boomtown experience.
The pledge
Anyone who takes the pledge is in with the chance of winning big prizes at Boomtown this year!
Last year, over 15,000 people took the Vibe Check pledge and helped make Boomtown a safer place to party.
Read through the pledges to find out what rewards may await you for taking the pledge 👇
Stay Crew Conscious
I pledge to keep my people close, check in regularly, and never let a mate wander solo when under the influence of alcohol or illegal drugs.
Getting someone help is not snitching, it is not killing the vibe, and it is not an overreaction. It is the most loyal thing I can do.
Know The Zones
Before I do anything else, I know where to find the welfare tent, the medical tent, Safer Spaces, and the drug education and advice services.
If I or someone around me needs help, I will go straight there. You will not get in trouble for seeking help.
Party Smart
There is no safe amount of illegal drugs. Drugs can be mixed with unknown substances, sold as something they are not, or be far stronger than expected.
I will learn the signs of a bad reaction: overheating, seizure, confusion, unresponsiveness, difficulty breathing and I will act immediately if I see them.
If something feels wrong, I will not wait to see if it gets better. I will get help.
Fuel Up, Don't Burn Out
I will eat actual meals. I will drink water.
Dehydration is dangerous on its own. Combined with alcohol or drugs, it puts a serious strain on your body. A good night becomes a medical emergency faster than you think.
Looking after your body is not optional. It is the baseline.
It's A Marathon, Not A Sprint
The weekend is long and there is so much to experience. I will pace myself, rest when I need to, and make choices that mean I am still standing on the final day.
There is no single moment worth losing the rest of the weekend for.
Pay Off The Sleep Debt
I will rest after heavy nights. Sleep deprivation is not a badge of honour; it dramatically increases the risk of psychosis, dangerous reactions to drugs and alcohol, and serious accidents. Tired people make bad calls.
A power nap, a lie-in, an afternoon in the shade: none of that is wasted festival time.
Rest is not giving up. Rest is how I stay sharp enough to look after myself and the people around me.
Recovery Rave
I pledge to experience at least one set, one performance, or one moment each day completely sober. No alcohol, no illegal drugs, nothing.
Not as punishment. Not as a detox. As proof. Proof that the music, the art, the theatre and the people are the real thing and that I do not need anything else to access it.
FAQs
Boomtown has a zero-tolerance policy on illegal drugs.
Anyone found in possession of illegal drugs will have them confiscated and should expect to be ejected from the festival, and could face prosecution.
Drugs are illegal, and a police record can seriously affect your future employment, education, or travel. Amnesty points are provided before entry to safely dispose of any prohibited items.
Once past these points, possession could result in eviction. Police and security, including search dogs, will be active at all gates.
Don’t risk it, do not bring illegal drugs into the city.
Here is a Breakdown of our Illegal Drugs Policy:
- Illegal drugs are strictly prohibited.
- Any person found in possession of illegal drugs past the amnesty points, and before reaching the entrance, should expect to be refused entry and evicted from the festival site immediately.
- The possession, use or sale of illegal drugs is strictly prohibited at Boomtown, this includes Nitrous Oxide and all New Psychoactive Substances.
- Amnesty points will be located on the approach to the festival gates, at the medical, welfare and information point for any contraband or illegal items to be disposed of.
- Be aware that search dogs will be in operation at the gates at all times.
- Payment systems such as PDQ and EPOS devices are prohibited. Anyone found to have such a device will be evicted from the festival site.
- Police will be operating alongside our security at the festival entry gates.
- Do not risk it. Do not bring drugs into the city.
We raise awareness of drug safety throughout the year and implement a series of harm reduction measures on site designed to safeguard our citizens. This has long been a priority for us and we are proud to be able to say we have participated and led the way in this safety drive.
We do not condone any usage of illegal drugs at Boomtown and anyone found in possession of illegal substances, will have them confiscated and you should expect to be ejected from the festival site and could face prosecution. If you get a police record for drugs it may impact your future employment, education and travel plans.
Drugs can and do kill.
Please read this information on the areas we have highlighted for this year's festival that many people should be fully aware of before experimenting with illegal drugs.
Vibe Check is a festival-wide pledge to party smarter and look out for your crew.
From fuelling up and catching Zs to knowing where to find help and spotting danger signs, it’s all about staying switched on, synced up, and making sure everyone gets the most out of the Boomtown experience.
Stay Crew Conscious
I pledge to keep my people close, check in often, and never let a mate wander solo into the unknown.
Know the Zones
I know where to get help, and I’ll use it if I or someone else needs it. No judgment. Just care.
Party Smart
I’ll check, I know the risks of drugs and alcohol before arriving. I’ll spot the signs, stay switched on, and make choices that keep the vibes high and the risks low.
Fuel Up, Don’t Burn Out
I’ll eat real meals, hydrate often, and have spacers, not chasers, to stay charged for the full weekend.
It’s a Marathon, Not a Sprint
I’ll pace myself and take regular breaks. Don’t hurry through the party. The vibes last longer that way.
Pay off Sleep Debt
I’ll catch up on sleep from any late nights. Whether it’s a power nap, a lie-in, or just a quiet moment. A few Zs keep vibes high and the memories clear.
Recovery Rave
I pledge to dive into at least one Boomtown set or theatrical mission with a clear head, no buzz, just full presence. The magic hits deeper sober.
Not only does taking Ketamine dissociate you from the festival surroundings, it also has some very serious and very real side effects;
- Taking Ketamine can be fatal, particularly if it is mixed with other drugs or alcohol • Taken in high dosage can cause seizures
- Ketamine can increase your heart rate and blood pressure. It can make you confused, agitated, delirious and disconnected from reality.
- Because you don't feel pain properly when you've recently taken Ketamine, you can injure yourself and not know you've done it.
- Abdominal pain, sometimes called ‘K cramps’, have been reported by people who have taken ketamine for a long time.
- In the longer term, Ketamine can cause serious bladder problems, with the urgent and frequent need to pee.
- Evidence of liver damage due to regular, heavy Ketamine use is emerging.
In 2021, pills contained around 150MG of MDMA. Now, the average sits at over 180MG. Stronger IS NOT better. It’s more dangerous. ALWAYS start low and go slow and allow your body to feel the effects. A lot of illegal drugs have come on the market that are incredibly pure, which doesn't mean they are ‘safer’ or good for you... Always pace yourself.
While it might seem like harmless fun, using or supplying nitrous oxide can actually land you in serious legal trouble. Nitrous Oxide (NOS/Balloons) are now a Class C controlled substance. This means possession with intent to use is a criminal offence. In the UK, it’s illegal to sell or distribute nitrous oxide for recreational use. If caught, you could face fines or even worse, imprisonment. And let's not forget those discarded canisters can cause significant environmental harm. They’re not biodegradable, and they litter our festival grounds, causing damage to wildlife and the environment.
Mixing substances intensifies the effects of any individual drug and makes them more dangerous. The more drugs that are used simultaneously, the greater the risk is. Do not mix substances. Some examples and risks of them are:
Depressant + Depressant (such as ketamine and alcohol): Combining these can slow down your central nervous system way too much, which can be really dangerous and even lead to death.
Stimulant + Stimulant (such as ecstasy and cocaine): This combo puts a lot of strain on your heart and can cause insomnia or even drug-induced psychosis.
Stimulant + Depressant (such as cocaine and alcohol): Mixing these can trick your body into thinking it can handle more, but when one wears off, the effects of the other can hit you all at once.
Many people don’t think of alcohol as a ‘drug’. Alcohol can however, have a big impact on the way many substances affect you. Some of the time this involves enhancing the effects of the other drug, but with many substances, alcohol can create a dangerous, potentially fatal, chemical reaction.
