Journal article 183 views 13 downloads
Welfare first: transforming harm reduction at UK festivals
Harm Reduction Journal, Volume: 22, Issue: 1
Swansea University Author:
Joseph Janes
-
PDF | Version of Record
© The Author(s) 2025. This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Download (900.06KB)
DOI (Published version): 10.1186/s12954-025-01184-1
Abstract
BackgroundA welfare-first approach to harm reduction at UK festivals is emerging as a critical strategy for enhancing festival safety. In particular, the implementation of anonymous, non-punitive drug-checking services is posited as essential for reducing drug-related harm by enabling informed decis...
Published in: | Harm Reduction Journal |
---|---|
ISSN: | 1477-7517 |
Published: |
UK
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
2025
|
Online Access: |
Check full text
|
URI: | https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa69200 |
first_indexed |
2025-04-01T13:27:42Z |
---|---|
last_indexed |
2025-05-01T04:30:58Z |
id |
cronfa69200 |
recordtype |
SURis |
fullrecord |
<?xml version="1.0"?><rfc1807><datestamp>2025-04-30T12:17:17.6316088</datestamp><bib-version>v2</bib-version><id>69200</id><entry>2025-04-01</entry><title>Welfare first: transforming harm reduction at UK festivals</title><swanseaauthors><author><sid>9978c07cfc688537dce1a87a5a779c19</sid><ORCID>0000-0001-5285-0937</ORCID><firstname>Joseph</firstname><surname>Janes</surname><name>Joseph Janes</name><active>true</active><ethesisStudent>false</ethesisStudent></author></swanseaauthors><date>2025-04-01</date><deptcode>SOSS</deptcode><abstract>BackgroundA welfare-first approach to harm reduction at UK festivals is emerging as a critical strategy for enhancing festival safety. In particular, the implementation of anonymous, non-punitive drug-checking services is posited as essential for reducing drug-related harm by enabling informed decision-making. This empirical study examines the limitations of punitive drug policies and the associated risks to public health and explores the potential benefits of decriminalisation in fostering safer festival environments.MethodsThe study employed qualitative methodologies, including semi-structured interviews and questionnaires with festival attendees at three major UK festivals. This empirical data was supplemented by a review of recent studies (Ivers et al. in Ir J Med Sci 191(4):1701–1710, 2022. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11845-021-02765-2; Palmer Maynard in Harm Reduc J 19(1):81, 2022. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12954-022-00662-0; Cooney and Measham. in Drug Sci Policy Law 9, 2023. https://doi.org/10.1177/20503245231211444) and relevant policy documents, in order to evaluate current harm reduction practices and identify key barriers, such as stigma, social control, and criminalisation.ResultsAnalysis revealed that integrated harm reduction measures, comprising drug-checking services, welfare support, and early intervention initiatives, significantly enhance safety by empowering individuals with timely, accurate substance information. A majority of participants expressed a clear preference for drug-checking services, underscoring their willingness to engage when these services are provided in a supportive, non-punitive environment. However, persistent challenges related to punitive drug policies and gaps in public education about harm reduction continue to impede optimal service delivery. Evidence further suggests that a shift towards decriminalisation and welfare-based approaches could mitigate these risks and foster more trusting engagement with harm reduction initiatives.ConclusionsThe findings indicate that prioritising welfare-first harm reduction strategies, particularly the implementation of anonymous drug-checking services, can create safer festival environments and inform broader public health policies. The study underscores the need for policy reforms that move away from punitive approaches, suggesting that festival-based interventions can serve as scalable models for reducing drug-related harm across diverse community settings.</abstract><type>Journal Article</type><journal>Harm Reduction Journal</journal><volume>22</volume><journalNumber>1</journalNumber><paginationStart/><paginationEnd/><publisher>Springer Science and Business Media LLC</publisher><placeOfPublication>UK</placeOfPublication><isbnPrint/><isbnElectronic/><issnPrint/><issnElectronic>1477-7517</issnElectronic><keywords/><publishedDay>22</publishedDay><publishedMonth>3</publishedMonth><publishedYear>2025</publishedYear><publishedDate>2025-03-22</publishedDate><doi>10.1186/s12954-025-01184-1</doi><url/><notes/><college>COLLEGE NANME</college><department>Social Sciences School</department><CollegeCode>COLLEGE CODE</CollegeCode><DepartmentCode>SOSS</DepartmentCode><institution>Swansea University</institution><apcterm>Other</apcterm><funders/><projectreference/><lastEdited>2025-04-30T12:17:17.6316088</lastEdited><Created>2025-04-01T14:18:59.3402159</Created><path><level id="1">Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences</level><level id="2">School of Social Sciences - Criminology, Sociology and Social Policy</level></path><authors><author><firstname>Joseph</firstname><surname>Janes</surname><orcid>0000-0001-5285-0937</orcid><order>1</order></author></authors><documents><document><filename>69200__34137__d26941c6e29549c69c82e9455cb22df1.pdf</filename><originalFilename>69200.VoR.pdf</originalFilename><uploaded>2025-04-30T12:15:01.1304783</uploaded><type>Output</type><contentLength>921666</contentLength><contentType>application/pdf</contentType><version>Version of Record</version><cronfaStatus>true</cronfaStatus><documentNotes>© The Author(s) 2025. This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.</documentNotes><copyrightCorrect>true</copyrightCorrect><language>eng</language><licence>http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/</licence></document></documents><OutputDurs/></rfc1807> |
spelling |
2025-04-30T12:17:17.6316088 v2 69200 2025-04-01 Welfare first: transforming harm reduction at UK festivals 9978c07cfc688537dce1a87a5a779c19 0000-0001-5285-0937 Joseph Janes Joseph Janes true false 2025-04-01 SOSS BackgroundA welfare-first approach to harm reduction at UK festivals is emerging as a critical strategy for enhancing festival safety. In particular, the implementation of anonymous, non-punitive drug-checking services is posited as essential for reducing drug-related harm by enabling informed decision-making. This empirical study examines the limitations of punitive drug policies and the associated risks to public health and explores the potential benefits of decriminalisation in fostering safer festival environments.MethodsThe study employed qualitative methodologies, including semi-structured interviews and questionnaires with festival attendees at three major UK festivals. This empirical data was supplemented by a review of recent studies (Ivers et al. in Ir J Med Sci 191(4):1701–1710, 2022. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11845-021-02765-2; Palmer Maynard in Harm Reduc J 19(1):81, 2022. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12954-022-00662-0; Cooney and Measham. in Drug Sci Policy Law 9, 2023. https://doi.org/10.1177/20503245231211444) and relevant policy documents, in order to evaluate current harm reduction practices and identify key barriers, such as stigma, social control, and criminalisation.ResultsAnalysis revealed that integrated harm reduction measures, comprising drug-checking services, welfare support, and early intervention initiatives, significantly enhance safety by empowering individuals with timely, accurate substance information. A majority of participants expressed a clear preference for drug-checking services, underscoring their willingness to engage when these services are provided in a supportive, non-punitive environment. However, persistent challenges related to punitive drug policies and gaps in public education about harm reduction continue to impede optimal service delivery. Evidence further suggests that a shift towards decriminalisation and welfare-based approaches could mitigate these risks and foster more trusting engagement with harm reduction initiatives.ConclusionsThe findings indicate that prioritising welfare-first harm reduction strategies, particularly the implementation of anonymous drug-checking services, can create safer festival environments and inform broader public health policies. The study underscores the need for policy reforms that move away from punitive approaches, suggesting that festival-based interventions can serve as scalable models for reducing drug-related harm across diverse community settings. Journal Article Harm Reduction Journal 22 1 Springer Science and Business Media LLC UK 1477-7517 22 3 2025 2025-03-22 10.1186/s12954-025-01184-1 COLLEGE NANME Social Sciences School COLLEGE CODE SOSS Swansea University Other 2025-04-30T12:17:17.6316088 2025-04-01T14:18:59.3402159 Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences School of Social Sciences - Criminology, Sociology and Social Policy Joseph Janes 0000-0001-5285-0937 1 69200__34137__d26941c6e29549c69c82e9455cb22df1.pdf 69200.VoR.pdf 2025-04-30T12:15:01.1304783 Output 921666 application/pdf Version of Record true © The Author(s) 2025. This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. true eng http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ |
title |
Welfare first: transforming harm reduction at UK festivals |
spellingShingle |
Welfare first: transforming harm reduction at UK festivals Joseph Janes |
title_short |
Welfare first: transforming harm reduction at UK festivals |
title_full |
Welfare first: transforming harm reduction at UK festivals |
title_fullStr |
Welfare first: transforming harm reduction at UK festivals |
title_full_unstemmed |
Welfare first: transforming harm reduction at UK festivals |
title_sort |
Welfare first: transforming harm reduction at UK festivals |
author_id_str_mv |
9978c07cfc688537dce1a87a5a779c19 |
author_id_fullname_str_mv |
9978c07cfc688537dce1a87a5a779c19_***_Joseph Janes |
author |
Joseph Janes |
author2 |
Joseph Janes |
format |
Journal article |
container_title |
Harm Reduction Journal |
container_volume |
22 |
container_issue |
1 |
publishDate |
2025 |
institution |
Swansea University |
issn |
1477-7517 |
doi_str_mv |
10.1186/s12954-025-01184-1 |
publisher |
Springer Science and Business Media LLC |
college_str |
Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences |
hierarchytype |
|
hierarchy_top_id |
facultyofhumanitiesandsocialsciences |
hierarchy_top_title |
Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences |
hierarchy_parent_id |
facultyofhumanitiesandsocialsciences |
hierarchy_parent_title |
Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences |
department_str |
School of Social Sciences - Criminology, Sociology and Social Policy{{{_:::_}}}Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences{{{_:::_}}}School of Social Sciences - Criminology, Sociology and Social Policy |
document_store_str |
1 |
active_str |
0 |
description |
BackgroundA welfare-first approach to harm reduction at UK festivals is emerging as a critical strategy for enhancing festival safety. In particular, the implementation of anonymous, non-punitive drug-checking services is posited as essential for reducing drug-related harm by enabling informed decision-making. This empirical study examines the limitations of punitive drug policies and the associated risks to public health and explores the potential benefits of decriminalisation in fostering safer festival environments.MethodsThe study employed qualitative methodologies, including semi-structured interviews and questionnaires with festival attendees at three major UK festivals. This empirical data was supplemented by a review of recent studies (Ivers et al. in Ir J Med Sci 191(4):1701–1710, 2022. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11845-021-02765-2; Palmer Maynard in Harm Reduc J 19(1):81, 2022. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12954-022-00662-0; Cooney and Measham. in Drug Sci Policy Law 9, 2023. https://doi.org/10.1177/20503245231211444) and relevant policy documents, in order to evaluate current harm reduction practices and identify key barriers, such as stigma, social control, and criminalisation.ResultsAnalysis revealed that integrated harm reduction measures, comprising drug-checking services, welfare support, and early intervention initiatives, significantly enhance safety by empowering individuals with timely, accurate substance information. A majority of participants expressed a clear preference for drug-checking services, underscoring their willingness to engage when these services are provided in a supportive, non-punitive environment. However, persistent challenges related to punitive drug policies and gaps in public education about harm reduction continue to impede optimal service delivery. Evidence further suggests that a shift towards decriminalisation and welfare-based approaches could mitigate these risks and foster more trusting engagement with harm reduction initiatives.ConclusionsThe findings indicate that prioritising welfare-first harm reduction strategies, particularly the implementation of anonymous drug-checking services, can create safer festival environments and inform broader public health policies. The study underscores the need for policy reforms that move away from punitive approaches, suggesting that festival-based interventions can serve as scalable models for reducing drug-related harm across diverse community settings. |
published_date |
2025-03-22T05:38:51Z |
_version_ |
1836508650543251456 |
score |
11.380731 |