Some 40,000 people streamed into Toronto鈥檚 Downsview Park on Saturday for the first day of the annual Veld Music Festival.
For the first time, the two-day electronic dance music event is , an opioid overdose antidote that comes in both injectable and nasal spray forms. The festival says the naloxone must be 鈥渇actory sealed.鈥�
Paramedics at the festival have also been equipped with the drug.
According to festival organizers, two people had already been treated for suspected overdoses at Veld as of early evening Saturday, although it was not clear what drug they had taken.
This week, there were six drug-related deaths in Toronto and another 79 overdoses. Most were linked to fentanyl, a powerful and deadly opioid that is sometimes surreptitiously added to other party drugs, like ecstasy and cocaine.
In 2014, a man and woman died after taking an unknown party drug at Veld. Thirteen others were sickened.
By providing first responders with naloxone and allowing festival-goers to bring their own supply of the overdose antidote, Veld is following in the footsteps of Ontario鈥檚 WayHome Music and Arts Festival, which was held in late July.
With a report from CTV Toronto鈥檚 Austin Delaney
