Dying To Party

Since 2012, these 12 people have died at Australian music festivals – five in the last six months. In the wake of the most recent drug overdoses, the debate over allowing pill testing at these events is mounting. Three women at the forefront of the issue speak to Cat Rodie about the fight to end the fatalities.

- Cat Rodie

ADRIANA BUCCIANTI

In 2012, Adriana Buccianti got the news that every parent dreads – her son, Daniel, 34, had been found dead after taking drugs at a music festival in Victoria. Following the death of a young woman at a Sydney festival two years later, she has become a passionate advocate for pill testing.

Daniel was a smart, curious and loving young man. He worked hard as a chef, and in disability care. He also liked to party with his friends. We were more like friends than mother and son. I can count on one hand the number of arguments we had.

I knew that Daniel took drugs occasionally, but it didn’t concern me too much. He was sensible and didn’t take many risks.

Daniel turned 34 in January, 2012. I bought him a new watch, but he told me to take it back. Instead, he wanted a ticket to the Rainbow Serpent music festival. While we talked on the phone, I went online to buy the ticket. Just before I hit “purchase” I said, “Do you really want to go?” He hesitated, and then said, “Yeah, I’ll go.”

The festival took place on a scorching-hot weekend. I thought of Daniel often while I stayed at home babysitting my granddaughter (my daughter’s daughter), who was four at the time.

At 6 pm Daniel phoned me, sounding panicked. He’d taken something, some “bad acid”, and was stressing out. He begged me to pick him up.