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Music festivals are high octane weekends where it feels like pretty much anything goes.

For many people, especially those of a younger age, perhaps experiencing one for the very first time, they’re places where anything goes. And what that often means is indulging far too much in substances they perhaps shouldn’t be.

It’s a similar story for those that have suffered with the likes of addiction in the past, with so much temptation around when all you really want to do is see that band that you love.

Staying sober at a festival can be incredibly difficult. There’s pressure, temptation and so much more. But there’s also a lot of risk and danger too.

Every year we see dozens of overdoses at festivals across the western world. In the UK, only recently a 16-year-old boy was found dead at Leeds Festival, an event which saw the likes of Arctic Monkeys, The 1975 and more played.

So, how exactly do you avoid booze and drugs at festivals? And more importantly, how do you do it and still have a great time?

Find a sober campsite

Many festivals will have camping sections that are either alcohol-free or designated to families or quiet zones. These are perfect for camping in if you’re not keen on the idea of people incredibly drunk bouncing over your tent.

That doesn’t necessarily mean they are dull. Rather they will be full of like-minded people that are also there to enjoy the music and the goings on rather than spending an entire weeking drowning themselves in cheap cider.

Think about the festival you go to

Some festivals as a whole are much more sober-friendly, and you’ll find that right across a range of festivals from music to arts, to food and so on. When it comes to music, read about a festival’s reputation and the type of people that go. For example, you may find a crowd at one is more tailored to late teens and students, where heavy drinking and drug taking is going to be prevalent, while others may have a more mature audience, and while there will still likely be drink and drugs in the air, it’s going to be less in your face.

Think where your head is at

Perhaps most importantly, you need to understand where you’re at if the reason you want to enjoy a festival sober is because you suffer from addiction. If you’re in recovery, then you need to know if you’re ready for that level of temptation to be on offer. If you’ve just finished rehab at somewhere like The Recovery Village Indianapolis, for example, a drug-fuelled festival probably isn’t a good place to be.

Don’t throw yourself straight into it and think carefully about whether it’s the right thing for you. If you do, then great. What also may be useful is to have a support network with you. Not only can they ensure you stay sober, but you’ve got a group of people to have a great time with too!

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