Substance Abuse in Electronic Dance Music Culture: Minimizing the Effects

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Recommended: Emerging problems associated with music festivals due to drug usage

Substance Abuse in Electronic Dance Music Culture: Minimizing the Effects
EDM (electronic dance music) has proven to be a very powerful movement and important part of modern culture. Tons of enthusiastic fans come from all over the world to experience popular EDM rave events in the big cities such as Ultra Music Festival and Electric Zoo. At these type of events fans can expect high quality electronic music, light effects, and recreational drugs. Along seeing the casual use of drugs, it is also common to see the occasional overdose. Although the acceptance of drug use may sound superficial, it has been a part of the music event scene for ages. However, drug use in EDM culture seems to be a bit heavier than in other music cultures. Because of the widespread of abusive incidents, the way substance use is handled at EDM events needs to change.
Some could say dance events are just as fun sober as they are on something. Some could say substances enhance an individual’s festival experience. Either of these opinions could be right, but what remains a fact is that substances are indeed, in one way or another, deeply involved with music. It is not because of the music itself, however influential it may seem, but rather the choice of fans that has caused this. Everyone wants to have a great experience at a music festival. If they are offered a greater experience, then of course they will be open-minded. Although substances may be an experience for some, they may be the divider between life and death for others. From alcohol poisoning at Toby Keith shows and meth use at Metallica concerts, substance abuse has proven to be something widespread and dangerous throughout music festivals (Baca, par. 8). Society can make substances a taboo, say ...

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...dvice along with music. New York Times. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/1436552021?accountid=1137
Yee, V., & Rashbaum, W. K. (2013, Sep 02). Weekend revelry abruptly ends after 2 die at electronic music festival. New York Times. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/1429148864?accountid=1137
Gonzales, Neil. "VENUE BANS RAVES AFTER DRUG TRAGEDIES." Contra Costa TimesNov 17 2010.
ProQuest. Web. 2 Dec. 2013 .
Adams, Jill U. "A CLOSER LOOK; how Ecstasy Harms; the Drug, Popular at Raves, can make Users Feel
Sharp. that Doesn't make it Safe." Los Angeles TimesJul 12 2010. ProQuest. Web. 2 Dec. 2013 .
Baca, Ricardo. "Music of SUBSTANCE Drugs have always been a Part of Rock's Highs and Lows. but the
Soundtrack has Changed. Same Destination, New Trip, through Electronica." Denver Post Jan 16
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