The Loop announce MDMA training, history and harm reduction course

The UK drug testing and harm reduction charity The Loop has announced a new training course called MDMA (Ecstasy) - A Deep Dive.

The training course aims to give participants a better understanding of the risks and harm reduction strategies for places where people take MDMA, and is described as “above entry-level”, as it explores MDMA in depth.

Some of the topics set to be covered in the course include the history of MDMA, the current drug market in the UK, the sub-cultures associated with MDMA use, the effects and risks associated with its use, and learning how to “adopt a harm reduction approach to the drug.”

Read this next: Warnings issued over “potentially fatal” ketamine circulating Manchester

The course is aimed at a range of people who work in “drugs services, universities, health services, local authorities, third sector, public health, police forces as well as the night time economy, including event management, nightlife venues and organisations operating in leisure spaces.”

The course is funded by the health and safety guidance service The Purple Guide, meaning that The Loop have offered the course at half price to anyone working at music festivals or in the outdoor events industry.

Founded in 2012, The Loop has provided invaluable safety and harm reduction services in the UK, as well as their on site festival drug-testing service, which has previously identified high-risk MDMA pills such as 1.5 times strength pills at Manchester’s Parklife, and super strength "teddy bear pills" at Secret garden Party.

The service recently resumed this on-site testing after being granted additional licensing, following the government’s controversial decision in 2023 to require drug-testing organisations to apply for such licensing to continue operating, a move which was described as “life-saving.”

Read this next: Home Office confirms additional licensing for on-site drug testing at UK music festivals

The Loop also recently hosted an online training day which covered the current trends in drug-taking at festivals and outdoor events, which took place on June 7.

To purchase tickets to the course, click here.

Jamaal Johnson is Mixmag's Digital Intern, follow him on Instagram