Fraser Health offers free drug testing at FVDED in the Park – BC

To keep people safe, Fraser Health is offering free drug testing at the FVDED in the Park music festival in Surrey.

Drug checking is a harm reduction service provided by the health authority throughout the year, but it also does pop-up services. There is a drug testing tent just outside the festival.

“This free and confidential service helps screen medications for fentanyl and other substances,” Fraser Health said in a social media post.

“If you are going to use, make sure you know what is in your medication. And remember: take a naloxone kit with you and don’t use it alone.”

The two-day festival in Holland Park is completely sold out. Normally, more than 40,000 visitors attend.

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“We’re super excited to be able to offer this service and keep people safer,” Jennifer Conway-Brown told Global News at the testing tent.

“The unregulated market for substances is highly toxic and we want people to have all the information they need to make informed choices.”

Conway-Brown said the service on Saturday, the first day of the festival, was “well received”.

“(The response) has been really good. So yesterday we had quite a few people come by and ask questions and get some fabrics tested. We’re really excited to be here.”

According to Fraser Health, people can also get their drugs tested at other testing facilities, including Safepoint in Surrey, Purpose Society in New Westminster, RanCity Housing in Surrey and RainCity Housing in Coquitlam.

This year, major international artists Swedish House Mafia, DEADMAU5 and Kaskade headlined FVDED at the Park.

The festival returned this year after the 2023 event was cancelled due to “difficulties”, organizers said.

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— With files by Julia Foy

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