Electric Zoo’s founders have cancelled the final day of this summer’s festival after two fans died and at least four others were placed in intensive care. According to the Mayor’s Office, the situation posed “serious health risks” for the rest of the weekend and “both [deaths] appear to have involved the drug MDMA (Ecstasy, or Molly). The Electric Zoo organizers have worked with City officials to reduce health risks at this event, but in view of these occurrences, the safest course is to cancel the remaining day of the event.”
In a separate statement, the event’s promoters added, “The founders of Electric Zoo send our deepest condolences to the families of the two people who passed away this weekend. Because there is nothing more important to us than our patrons, we have decided in consultation with the New York City Parks Department that there will be no show today.”
The widely reported rise of Molly use—see: this New York Times story—was recently addressed in an Electric Zoo post that included details about medical aid stations and the signs and symptoms of potentially fatal side effects from drug use…
“There will be more party animals at the Zoo this Labor Day Weekend than ever before, and we want to make sure you all enjoy it thoroughly and get home safely. Please watch out for each other, and know that help is all around you. If you see someone slip, trip, or overheat, someone who needs medical attention, rehydration, or just a helping hand, please keep the positive vibe alive, and be a friend to a friend in need.
Electric Zoo strongly advocates against the use of drugs. Avoiding drug use is the only way to completely avoid drug-related risks. You don’t need drugs anyway when world class music is swirling all around you. Know that mixing drugs and alcohol, or frequent and increased use, will increase your risks of life-threatening problems. Here’s some math to go with that: Drugs or alcohol + Non-stop Dancing + Sun Exposure = Dehydration and a whole spectrum of other dangerous conditions. So stay safe, stay hydrated, take frequent breaks, remember to eat, and you will successfully pull off having the time of your life! If you suspect that someone is ailing from a medical issue or the overuse of drugs or alcohol, seek immediate medical attention.”
Check out the Ecstasy episode of BBC Three’s How Drugs Work series below:
http://youtu.be/t9U2SG0ZJuU
