What is a “rave?” Google the term and one of the first definitions you will find describes it as “a lively party or gathering involving dancing and drinking.” However, ask the people that thrive in its culture, and the answer you’ll get is so much more. Raves began in the UK in 1989 as illegal, underground gatherings in abandoned warehouses and were centered around a group of like-minded people dancing for hours to electronic music produced by DJs. Even in the beginning, raves were more than any party or concert, they were an experience. They were magical environments involving laser lights, unique fashions, and positive, open-minded attitudes. The rave movement was and is influenced greatly by the electronic dance music that started it, as well as the strong sense of community that it brings, but underneath the happy vibes and friendly faces lies something threatening. Today’s drug culture is pervading the rave scene more than ever, and the abuse is not only dangerous, but could be corrupting the very ideals that this community claims to stand for.
The rave scene associates itself with the idea of good vibes, and they use the acronym “PLUR” (Peace, Love, Unity, and Respect) as a sort of slogan to promote a judge-free and fun-filled zone. Yet, what is really the driving force behind this energetic, careless group? The answer starts with MDMA. Ecstasy, “Molly,” LSD, GHP, Ketamine, Rohpynol; drugs like these are just the beginning of a long list of substances that have become incredibly common when attending a rave. Many people wonder if the rave atmosphere is really still all about expression and acceptance, or if it is now just an excuse to get super high and enjoy an awesome light show.
MDMA is the most commonly abused, psychoactive “club drug.” In it’s purest form it is a crystalline powder and can be snorted or smoked, but it is usually taken in tablet form. It’s effects usually last for about three to six hours and have been described by users as relaxed energy, a sense of peace and joy, the desire to be physically active, and a greater appreciation for music, vision, touch, and taste. At any rave you can usually find multiple people walking around wearing gloves with colored, LED lights in the finger tips. These people will perform “light shows” for rave-goers on MDMA (Molly or Ecstasy); they move their hands in front of the persons face in a fluid, dance-like manner, and the MDMA user becomes entranced. This is just one example of a users enhanced appreciation and fascination with vision. Massages are also commonly given at raves, once again because of an MDMA users increased sensitivity to and enjoyment of touch. Now, while all of this sounds wonderful, the negative effects of MDMA are far greater and can be very serious. Dehydrations, exhaustion, hyperthermia, seizures, increased heart rate, high blood pressure, kidney and heart failure are just the beginning of the physical damage that this drug can cause to a person. At raves, you will see many people with pacifiers or lollipops in their mouths. MDMA often causes users to grind their teeth, and sucking on objects such as these prevents them from cutting up the inside of their mouth. However, I have known many people who have woken up the day after attending a rave on Molly with a sore jaw and many open cuts on the insides of their cheeks. This is usually the least of their problems in the following days. The short term effects of MDMA can range from depression, to anxiety, to insomnia, and even aggression. When I was a senior in high school, a few of my friends attending a Swedish House Mafia concert in Brooklyn. SHM was (they have since broken up) a group of three DJ’s that really kick started the EDM (Electronic Dance Music) movement and made the rave scene into what it is today. Their concerts are most definitely considered raves, and my friends decided to take Molly for the first time when they went. In the days that followed, their side effects were absolutely miserable. They said that while on the drug, they were so incredibly happy and care free that now every day life made them feel depressed in comparison. They came to school on Monday feeling extremely irritably and they were antisocial the entire day. They kept to themselves and it was difficult to make conversation. Luckily this all soon passed, but the aftermath of MDMA can leave a user with long term effects such as a decreased or loss of sex drive, obsessive compulsive disorder, impaired memory, and once again, depression, anxiety, and trouble sleeping. It makes one wonder if a three to six hour high at a concert is really worth it.
In June of this year, 36 ravers at an Avicii concert at Boston’s TD Garden were hospitalized, with drugs and alcohol cited as the leading cause of the problem. In May, it was 29 people. In August of 2013, it was 30. These are just a few of the shows of ONE DJ. To think of the countless amount of DJs and shows that go on each year, the number of hospitalizations would be ridiculous. In August of this year, a 19-year-old girl died at an EDM festival due to a drug overdose involving ecstasy. A 19-year-old girl that could have been one of my friends or peers. The rave scene thrives all over the country, but especially in Florida where Ultra Music Festival (the Mecca of all raves) is held in Miami. The number of students at UT that are part of the rave scene is huge and it continues to grow. A friend of mine who is currently a junior here at UT unfortunately had the experience of his freshman year roommate dying from a seizure caused by Molly. The thought of dealing with that is unimaginable to me, and it really puts rave drugs into perspective. You will come across people here on campus that swear by these drugs, and who would never be caught attending a rave or concert without “rolling face.” Yet, these are the same people who will preach about the rave community being based on acceptance and love, and that it’s all about the music. Personally, I don’t feel that the highs these drugs bring would be worth the all of the possible negative effects that follow, and it saddens me to see that the abuse of these drugs is what the rave scene is turning into today.
