It is the summer time and EDM festivals have been happening almost every week across the country. EDM festivals are enjoyable concerts where a group of artists performs in a jam-packed schedule. Festivals are set up to have a couple performers on different stages at one time in order to entertain a larger crowd. While there are many positives to going to EDM festivals, there are many problems associated with them. These concerts are often associated with heavy drug use and drug overdoses.
Last Sunday, during the Hard Music Festival, three people died from drug overdoses. The most common drug that is abused is ecstasy and it can be very dangerous when taken in large amounts, as well as when mixed with other drugs and alcohol.
As a college student who enjoys listening to EDM and going to concerts, I get disappointed when drug overdoses give the EDM festivals a bad rep. There is no need for drug use at all. Concert goers should enjoy the music for what it is and how it was made. They should not try to increase the enjoyment from the experience by swallowing synthetic chemicals.
The deaths of many young adults are unacceptable and need to be addressed. EDM is enjoyable to listen to without the use of drugs, as I work out and listen to this genre daily. It increases my mood and my creativity because of the fast beat and often great vocals. It allows me to workout to my fullest potential and is great to listen to while driving around town. Therefore, it frustrates me to see so many take this music for granted and use it for the wrong reasons.
If you are an EDM fan, then be a fan while you're sober, not just when you are enjoying the music while high on ecstasy. The environment is still enjoyable and fun without these powerful drugs. It's not worth the mental and physical damage these drugs cause to people. It is also important to think about the families of children who have overdosed on these drugs. They have to mourn the death of teenagers who made big mistakes and took drugs to enhance the experience of a festival.
While there has been a large amount of crackdowns on drug use at festivals, there is more that can be done. EDM producers need to come out and openly discuss their disapproval of drug use while listening to their music. Concert security has to be tighter on checking for drugs at the door before concert goers have the freedom to do whatever they like on the lawn area.
Lastly, the user needs to understand the risks of using powerful drugs such as ecstasy and how unnecessary they are. Hardcore drugs have taken so many lives so far and it has still not deterred people from using them. This needs to stop now before many more people die as a result of drug overdose. Too many families have suffered and too many young adults have lost their lives as a result of trying to get high for a concert.
