According to a new survey, 77% of US festival-goers admit they plan to use drugs during their next festival. That’s a very sobering stat for festival organizers in two distinctly different ways.
First is a desire – and an insurance requirement – to keep patrons safe. But alongside that is also the reality that more hard and soft drug use also likely means less revenue from a source that many festivals count on – alcohol sales.
At some major festivals, the usage stats were much higher.
- 96% of those planning to attend Lollapalooza
- 95% of Rolling Loud attendees
- 94% of Burning Man and EDC-goers
More Key Takeaways
- More than half (55%) of festivalgoers have taken a substance from a stranger in the crowd.
- Almost one-third of festival attendees would rather risk taking bad drugs than perform on-site testing because they’re scared to get in trouble.
- 53% of attendees have experienced a substance-related injury at a festival.
- Lollapalooza attendees are the most likely to have sex with a stranger, while EDC attendees are the most likely to suffer from dehydration. Burning Man attendees are the most likely to have a bad trip.
Read the full study here.
Bruce Houghton is the Founder and Editor of Hypebot, a Senior Advisor at Bandsintown, President of the Skyline Artists Agency, and a Berklee College Of Music professor.
