Fusion Festival 2025: Security thanks to drug checks in the festival rush!

Fusion Festival 2025: Security thanks to drug checks in the festival rush!

The Fusion Festival in Lärz, which ended on June 29, 2025, enjoyed an international audience with around 70,000 visitors from all over the world. The event took place on a former Soviet military airfield in the picturesque area of ​​Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and offered over 2,500 artists on more than 30 stages for their creativity. The varied program design included everything from techno and rock to pop, theater and political lectures. As reported [ndr.de] (https://www.ndr.de/nachrichten/mecklenburg-vorpommern/artikelvorlage-mv ,-mfusion-116.html), the festival site opened its doors on Wednesday morning, while the big stages caused an exuberant mood from Thursday evening.

The weather was good, only on Thursday evening there were some rain showers, which could not harm the event. The return trip of the guests started on Sunday and extends over several days, which is why drivers had to plan more time on the streets B198 and A19. Around 800 coaches were on duty to promote the approximately 35,000 festival goers from large cities such as Hamburg, Nuremberg and Berlin. In addition, around 4,000 people traveled by train for which special trains between Oranienburg and Neustrelitz were provided.

Drug checking for more security

A particularly innovative feature of the festival was the drug check program, which was introduced in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania as the first legally secured model at large festivals. A mobile laboratory from the University of Rostock analyzed the substances of the visitors and found that a total of 446 samples were examined, including 153 pills. Highly dosed and potentially dangerous pills were discovered in 13 cases, which [welt.de] (https://www.welt.de/regionales/mecklenburg-vorpommern/article252317152/13-hochgefaehrliche-Drogen-deim-Festival- Festival) describes. The demand for this drug checking was enormous, which is why long snakes were formed.

Minister of Health Stefanie Drese was pleased with the pilot project. Gernot Rücker, a drug expert, confirmed that drug checking should be established as the standard in drug policy. In many cases, the immediate drug check was able to protect consumers from life-threatening consequences. At the same time, warning reports were issued on the festival site when overdoses or dangerous additions were recognized, with information about the organizer and on the website of the State Office for Health and Social Affairs. As an additional offer there was a small hospital on the site that listed some patients with diseases such as sunstick or cardiovascular problems.

quiet festival company with a few incidents

The police reported an overall calm and trouble -free festival. Despite the high number of visitors, only a few incidents were registered, such as property damage and theft. As part of the alcohol and drug controls at the wheel, fewer violations were found, and some drunk drivers were discovered during the controls. The joy of the festival visitors about the successful event overlaid the few negative events.

A comprehensive evaluation of the data collected from the drug check program is to be ensured by the end of the year. This information should flow into a publicly accessible database for drug education. Overall, the Fusion Festival showed that a good hand for security and a varied program is also possible in times of drug problems.