1 Million Strong is giving sober spaces a VIP upgrade

Attending Louder Than Life this weekend? Check out the 1 Million Strong tent.

 

The music industry, a hub of entertainment and creativity, is also a sector riddled with substance abuse, much like our own queer community. With 56 percent of industry professionals grappling with addiction, there has been a push to address the severe lack of safe (and fun) sober spaces in music. This is where 1 Million Strong steps into the limelight, with its mission to create inclusive sober spaces, encourage open conversations about recovery, and support the one million people impacted by addiction.

So, how does 1 Million Strong make this possible? By leveraging the power of community. The organization brings together people at music festivals to offer a sober and supportive environment. These spaces are for attendees who want a break from the crowd (and the sun) in a substance-free environment without sacrificing a great spot to listen to music. The tent I visited at the Bourbon and Beyond festival in Louisville last weekend was large, easy to find, and in a great location for the main stages. The multiple large fans, beautiful decor, and free cold and delicious drinks made it as welcoming (or more) than even VIP experiences, and it felt like it was designed to encourage friendly conversations between neighbors. In addition to this main tent was a second, smaller location on a quieter end of the festival for recovery meetings multiple times a day, with times clearly marked on signs for concertgoers.

“We want people to have a conversation about this. We don’t want to shy away from it,” says 1 Million Strong spokesperson Kevin Beerman. “There’s only so much stigma around addiction and recovery, so it’s one of those things that we want people to come check us out, whether they’re in recovery, whether they’re an ally or not, just to talk about it, get it out in the open, and not shy away from it. Because if we continue to make it an isolating experience, then we’re not going to be able to tackle the problem that 48 million Americans are dealing with right now, and I don’t think any of us have any interest in perpetuating that any longer.”

Illustrating this impact, Kevin shares the story of an individual less than a year into recovery who found himself in that tent just days earlier. His friends were excited to attend Bourbon and Beyond and he didn’t want to miss out, but on attending a festival with friends he found himself surrounded by vendors selling triggering drinks and felt himself on uncertain ground. However, on finding the 1 Million Strong tent, he gained a supportive tool that helped him get through the weekend. This tent, filled with people in recovery and allies of these individuals, paced the way for him to enjoy the music without any fear.

Kevin says, “It made him realize and it made him feel like he was gonna be able to escape if he was starting to feel shaky. He’d find supportive people here. He’d find other people in recovery. He’d find allies like myself. So he can come here and be around people who are going to make him feel safe and supported and very empowered to just like, chill and enjoy the music, which is what we all want.”

Music, a powerful unifying force, can drive individuals suffering from addiction to recovery. It becomes a force of connection, community, and belonging, which are essential elements of recovery. If individuals suffering from addiction and in recovery believe that they cannot attend such events without triggering their addiction, they risk isolation, something 1 Million Strong aims to counter actively.

Inclusivity is another crucial aspect of 1 Million Strong’s mission. With queer individuals dealing with a substance abuse problem at a rate substantially higher than our straight peers, it is important to provide safe spaces which are not simultaneously alcohol or drug-laden environments like bars. By focusing on LGBTQ support, 1 Million Strong ensures that substance abuse recovery doesn’t have to come at the cost of identity.

1 Million Strong is powered by The Phoenix, a sober, active community that uses the power of events to positively impact recovery. They have an online portal for free sober events across the country, and allow volunteers to set up their own events as well.