MUMBAI: UK festival Glastonbury has joined a number of other festivals in support of the campaign 'Don't Be in the Dark', which stands against "legal highs". On 5 May, Glastonbury took part in a digital blackout on its website to raise awareness on the perils of dangerous drugs that have still not been made illegal. The campaign is an initiative of AIF (Association of Independent Festivals).

It lasted a whole day and visitors to the site were greeted with an image of a light bulb on a black background with a message that read, "Don't Be In The Dark About Legal Highs". When visitors clicked on the bulb, they were redirected to information on "legal highs", or could also choose to go to the site's regular page.

The campaign aims at highlighting the fact that "legal highs" are completely unsafe to use, after their consumption lead to an 80 per cent increase in deaths last year from 29 to 52. There are thought to be more than 280 psychoactive synthetic drugs that do not fall under the Misuse of Drugs Act. Reports suggest that "legal highs" produce effects that are similar to illegal drugs like ecstasy, cannabis and cocaine.

Around 20 other festivals have backed the blackout campaign, including T in the Park, Global Gathering, Blissfields, Sonisphere, Glasgow Summer Sessions, Kendal Calling, 2000trees, Bestival, Nozstock, Belladrum Tartan Heart, We Are FSTVL, Secret Garden Party, Shambala, Tramlines and others.