BUFFALO, N.Y. — Music festivals often get a bad rep of coinciding with drug or alcohol.

“That's something that's near and dear to my heart because I’m a huge music fan,” said Chris Spalling, senior regional Manager for The Phoenix, a national organization working to fuel a movement to change how society approaches addiction. 

What You Need To Know

  • Music festivals  have long been associated with partying accompanied by the use of alcohol or drugs
  • According to a study performed by American Addiction Centers, 57% of people attending live music events admitted to using alcohol or drugs, with more than 93% consuming alcoholic beverages
  • Some festivals are taking the initiative to create space to combat substance abuse

This sometimes makes it hard for those who have struggled with addiction.

“I’m a person in recovery, I celebrated six years… and it’s been a long struggle for me,”  Spalling said. “For me, it was always problematic for me to have to go to a festival with a whole bunch of people and they ask me why am I not drinking.”

“I used to live in Buffalo and I was drinking and drugging really bad," said Harvey Sigel, an attendee of Bordeland Music Festival. "I mean, I was overdue for dying. There was no chance that I was going to make it to my 25th birthday." 

Which is why three organizations at the Borderland Music Festival are hoping to change that tune.

“I also have a lot of people in my family and that have been close to me that have had struggles with either mental wellness or substance abuse and I just know it's so important to make people feel really included and really proud on their journey,” said Jennifer Brazill, the owner and founder of Borderland Festival.

The festival’s “Sober Space” was made up of The Phoenix organization, the Curfew fellowship fund and Divided Sky Foundation, all focused on giving people resources and support during recovery.

“They may see our sign and they may come in and ask some questions," said Heather Santoro, a volunteer for the Divided Sky Foundation. “And it may be somebody, a parent or a loved one or a friend, that just wants information on how to help somebody who is struggling right now with drug and alcohol dependency."

"And it gives other people that are clean or sober an opportunity to be of service to them which is very very important,” said Sigel. 

The festival also gives them hope. 

“I’m now 61 and I’ve had 37 sober birthdays when I was all out of birthdays,” Sigel said.

And it allows them to enjoy the music.

“Changing the view of what it looks like to go to a music festival and be sober,” said Spalling.