Molly Overdoses at Music Festivals: Risks and Prevention

Music festivals are designed to celebrate connection, creativity, and shared experience. But in recent years, they’ve also become the setting for a growing number of preventable drug-related deaths. The accidental overdose of 20-year-old Brian Alan Brockette at the Electric Forest Festival highlights a sobering reality: substances often marketed as “safe” or “pure,” like Molly, can carry serious and sometimes fatal risks.

Molly—commonly understood as MDMA—is frequently associated with energy, empathy, and euphoria. What many people don’t realize is that the drug sold as Molly is often unregulated, inconsistently dosed, or mixed with other dangerous substances. In crowded, high-heat environments like festivals, those risks multiply quickly.

Understanding what makes MDMA dangerous, recognizing the warning signs of overdose, and knowing when to seek medical help can save lives.

Brian Alan Brockette, 20, passed away on June 29, but it was only this week that his death was finally ruled as an accidental overdose from MDMA toxicity. He was serving as a volunteer for an outside vendor at the festival. Tens of thousands of people from across the country attend the festival each year, but Brockette’s passing is the first death the Electric Forest Festival has experienced.

A Common Tragedy

Unfortunately, deaths from Molly at music festivals are becoming entirely too commonplace. Jessica Hunter, 21, passed away on October 8 after taking a bad batch of the drug during the Austin City Limits Music Festival in Texas. Her mother, Debra, said she will begin to visit schools and share her story in order to help create awareness of the dangers of drug use.

The Electric Zoo Festival decided to cancel the final day of its festival last year after two deaths related to an overdose of Molly and other substances, while MDMA deaths occurred at the Electric Daisy Carnival in 2010 and again in 2012. That festival relocated from Los Angeles to Las Vegas after the tragedy in 2010, which involved a 15-year-old girl.

Prevention Efforts to Combat Overdose

In addition to prevention efforts that required festival goers to undergo additional pat downs and other drug screening measures this year, the Electric Zoo Festival also launched a “Come To Life” campaign PSA. All festival attendees were required to watch the two-minute video before they could enter the grounds. Made Event, the creators of Electric Zoo, also designated a section of their website to the campaign, which included warning signs of a possible overdose and displayed where medical treatment centers were throughout the festival site.

“Our message to concertgoers is simple: The Electric Zoo experience is exceptional and worth being present for,” said Made Event founders Laura De Palma and Mike Bindra in a joint statement. “Molly can cause you to not only miss the moment, alienate your friends and have an overall adverse and unpleasant experience … but can also make you sick and can even be fatal. Fans will experience how great it is to ‘Come To Life’ at one of our concerts from lights, sounds and crowds.”

Public Awareness Matters

Every festival death linked to Molly or MDMA is a reminder that prevention, education, and timely medical care matter. While increased security measures and public awareness campaigns represent progress, they can’t eliminate the unpredictability of illicit drugs or the risks of dehydration, overheating, and delayed treatment.

Reducing harm starts with honest conversations about drug safety, access to on-site medical support, and removing stigma around asking for help. When people feel safe seeking care—for themselves or a friend—lives are more likely to be saved.

Do you need help?

If you or someone you care about is using MDMA or other substances, learning the risks and recognizing the signs of overdose is a critical first step. Recovery and treatment options are available, and reaching out early can make all the difference.

Recovery may seem daunting, but effective help is available. Explore residential drug rehabs or specialized alcohol addiction treatment programs to find the right environment for healing. Use our free tool to search for addiction treatment by insurance, location, and amenities now.