I would like to start off by apologizing to those who do not know the truth about what really goes on at music festivals. *Disclaimer* Most people are not sober, and the majority of individuals attending these events take their substance abuse to another level (I am not classifying the entire population of festival goers - I am sure that a percentage of attendees do not abuse their substances at all). With that being said, I would like to share with my audience a particular experience that changed my perspective for forever.

Last weekend, my best friend and I attended Hard Summer Music Festival in Los Angeles - for my second year in a row. And if you know me, you are aware that I enjoy attending music festivals and concerts on my free time, as a way to get away from the stresses of school and work and to have a great time with my friends.

And although I'm sure the majority of attendees at this event had an amazing time - my best friend and I experienced the opposite, for the first time ever (normally, we look back on every festival we attend and smile because of the amazing times that we had).

This experience was different - and not because the music wasn't great (because it was), or because we didn't have an amazing time with our other friends (because we did) - but because of what we witnessed.

We began our day with our group of friends; dancing, talking, and listening to our favorite DJs killing it on stage - everything was normal and fun, as it usually is at every festival. I never expected our night to end the way that it did.

It was as the last set of the event was nearing its end, that my perspective on substance abuse changed forever. As I was dancing the night away to my favorite Dj with my best friend, with no care in the world at that moment, I looked to my right and saw the unthinkable.

There was a man, laying there, unconscious - with no movement. Suddenly we witnessed this individual receiving CPR from a group of paramedics, who were unable to revive him. And the next thing I knew - ambulances arrived with defibrillators in an attempt to bring this man back to life. And from there - I question if this person pulled through (as we witnesses were asked to leave the scene - I assume to give the victim privacy).

This week, I received news that three individuals died at Hard Summer from drug overdoses - and I will always question if the man that I saw was one of them.

Before witnessing this horrible incident, I never put thought into the true effects of substance abuse and how it can truly effect a person's body. I've always been told that consuming too much of a substance can negatively affect a person and to be extremely careful while attending these events because actions are almost always taken to extremes.

However, I think it really hit home this past weekend, how cautious my generation (and even those before me) really need to be while attending these events and while consuming substances that could dramatically effect our lives for forever. Those three people who died at the event, did not expect to die - and their families did not expect to hear the terrible news that they received the morning after.

I am not saying "don't have fun" - you know as well as I how fun these events can be. I am just saying - be careful and cautious. Substance abuse is a rising issue throughout the nation - us college students (and I'm sure other adults as well) witness the effects of substance abuse on a daily basis; rather it be a party, bar, festival, etc. And I know being aware can take the fun out of an experience - but it is better to be aware, than to be sorry later.

So all I'm trying to say is, be careful - while also having fun. Enjoy the experience with the people that you love - but don't kill yourself (literally) in the process. We all have amazing lives to live, and so much to look forward to in our futures - don't ruin it all for the thrill of one night.