Drug offences during New Year's Day Dance Festival

On New Year’s Day, 2016, 184 revellers at a Sydney dance music festival were arrested by Police due to illicit drug offences, including eight revellers charged with drug supply.

Dubbed operation ‘Fuzzy Field Day 2016’, Police targeted anti-social behaviour, alcohol-related crime, and illegal drug use and supply, both inside and outside the venue, with assistance from drug detection sniffer dogs.

As part of the arrests, a 26-year-old female, and a 19-year-old male were both charged with supplying MDMA (ecstasy) pills, possessing 100 and 81 capsules respectively.

Unfortunately, Australian music festivals are becoming more and more synonymous with drug abuse, overdose and supply of illicit substances. Sydney’s Field Day was no different, with more than 200 revellers receiving medical treatment at the event, while one 23-year-old woman overdosed, and spent several days recovering in hospital.

Addressing reporters the morning after the event, Chief Inspector Stuart Bell expressed his confusion and anger regarding event attendees believing they can get away with using and supplying illicit drugs, despite its illegality.

“People continue to come to these events and take drugs, and we will continue to police these drugs, and we’ll hopefully detect you and arrest you,” said Chief Inspector Bell.

Without proper protocol in place, many addicted people or those fighting an addiction can become enmeshed in situations like music festivals where drug use is rampant, resulting in relapse, and sometimes, overdose.

DARA Thailand uses a variety of methods, namely its Integrated Behavioural Treatment Model (IBTM), to treat a plethora of addictions for four, eight and 12 weeks respectively, located in tropical Koh Chang. Importantly, DARA’s treatment program has a high completion rate of 92 per cent.

Furthermore, DARA Thailand is committed to educating its clientele about how best to fight one’s addiction post-treatment at its rehab facility, by equipping them with tools and support to continue their journey to recovery.

If you, or someone you know and/or love, is battling an addiction and requires help, or more information, please contact DARA Thailand on +66 87 140 7788 or email [email protected]