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Sober Ravers Talk Clean Partying and Making Interpersonal Connections at Shambhala 2016

We sent Daily VICE to learn more about the long-running Canadian music festival's drug and alcohol-free camping zone.
Photo courtesy of Daily VICE

This article originally appeared on THUMP Canada. With harm reduction at North American summer music festivals being a constant hot topic, British Columbia's long-running Shambhala has been at the forefront of safety, providing pill testing and sanctuary care for those who choose to indulge. They also offer a substance-free zone called Camp Clean Beats, where those people looking to experience the three-day event without alcohol or drugs can do so in a nonjudgemental space, with optional recovery-based meetings.

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Last week we ran a photo essay featuring some of this year's campers, accompanied by a brief interview with co-founder and coordinator Mandy Lawson, discussing the program's beginnings and her own personal experiences with drugs.

We also sent filmmaker Daniel J. Pierce for Daily VICE, who recently stopped by the office to talk about his interactions with attendees, who spoke to him about battling addiction, self-discovery, and the deeper connections formed in sober environments.

Watch the video below.

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