Usage of Drugs at Music Festivals - Research Paper Example

Usage of Drugs at Music Festivals Most of Music Festivals in America occur during summer. Those who attend the festival get a chance to dance in hot weather and enjoy themselves to the fullest. Most of the teens have the idea of letting themselves loose and trying doing new things, including breaking rules. They have a reputation of not only loud music and flashy lights, but also making out in weird places and taking drugs. Mostly, they abuse marijuana, cocaine, Molly and ecstasy (Wilson et al. 170). During these occasions, most of them take the drugs due to peer influence. Senior and frequent attendees persuade the young and green teens to buy the drugs. Sometimes they even sell them different drugs from the ones that they mention. They tell them of some of the advantages of the drugs like getting high and feeling the music better not mentioning the side effects. The teens end up taking drugs that they know nothing about, hence suffer severe medical conditions (Lim et al 439) Some take the drugs just because they are available. The way the drugs get into the event is the big question. Some female teens hide them in their tampons while others in their lipsticks and pouches. Male youth hides them below their belts, in their wallet between cash notes, and even in the pen tops. Once in the event, the drugs move from person to person and even get into drinks of innocent individuals (Blanding). Most of the people on the occasion take drugs just in the name of having fun while others have just the curiosity of knowing how it feels taking the drug. Not being considerate of the adverse effects of the drugs, some people consume alcohol among other drugs abused, in the name of getting high. They believe that they need to be off their chops to enjoy the loud music and lights. Beginners suffer more compared to frequent users of the drug (Platt 1). In some occasions, the carries away some individuals, who becomes hyped and pushes limits too far by doing things that they would not do in ordinary situations. At such point, they take drugs and do crazy stuff that they come to regret afterward when nursing their hangovers. Some go back to their homes injured only to realize when sober. Games such as “truth or dare” and “dirty deeds” played by youths during the event also contribute significantly in such occasions. Sometimes they dared one to drink or take a drug that they do not know. They do so in the name of the game. Drinking competitions also leave others taking too much of alcohol, chewing black out among other adverse effects (Lim et al. 440). One of the most commonly abused drug during Electron Music Festival in the US is Molly, recent name for ecstasy. They take the drug for the stimulation by light, sound, and touch sensation. To them, it gives a good feeling. They forget of its side effects, which include paranoid, depression, nausea and dehydration. Adversity of the effects of the drug occurs with an increase in temperature. Taking the drug in this condition increases the effects of hyperthermia. In some cases, it causes death from dehydration or heart failure (Hesse and Tutenges 88). The youths especially those who take much alcohol and smoke weed, end up hallucinating and even doing things that lead to their death. Some jump from tall buildings while others even stab themselves to death. In other cases, they end up causing chaos and initiate fights where most people involved turn out injured or even die. Some individuals under the influence of drugs rape women as a way of enjoying themselves (Martinus, Liam and Smith 798). Bhang, once overdosed, causes severe effects to the brain. The drug penetrates brain cells. Mild effects to those youths who smoke weed include hallucination, depression, severe headache at some point, and acute heart failure. It can also lead to death. Some people even lose their memory while other complain of brain damage and psychosis. Funny enough, with the knowledge of these effects, some even witnessed, youth still goes ahead to smoke weed during the Summer Music Festive (Wilson et al. 178) Another effect of such drugs is that it can lead to addiction. Some who tried the drug for the first time to satisfy their curiosity end up being addicted and at some point becomes dependent on the drug. Drugs such as Molly, alcohol, bhang, and cocaine are very addictive. Since these drugs are illegal, getting them becomes very expensive. Pity to those who end up being bankrupt and having financial problems because of spending all their parents cash on the drugs (Blanding 1). Intravenous administration of certain drugs such as cocaine leads to severe effects.Most of the youths taking the drugs use the same needle. Not knowing the health condition of their friends, they end up acquiring diseases transmitted through body fluids. Examples of such diseases include viral infections such as HIV, hepatitis B, and C. Some of the abused drugs cause severe damage to internal organs. Overuse of alcohol causes damage to the liver leading to liver cirrhosis. Bhang causes damage to the brain leading to brain damage. Bhang also damages the lung resulting in perforations of the lung leading to lung cancer. The smoke can also interfere with the blood red blood cells causing leukemia (Hesse and Tutenges 87). Ladies become loose when under the influence of Molly, cocaine, bhang and even alcohol. They end up indulging in unprotected sex with different people. As a result, sexual transmitted infection is acquired. In addition to that, they may get unwanted pregnancy. Some try to abort and even die in the process while others become barren for life (Blanding 1). In conclusion, at the end of the festival, the main objective of many, to have fun turns out to deaths, injury and disappointments. The government through the law ought to rescue the situation. Strict inspection ought being done for those attending such festivals. It will be helpful if mass education on the effects of drugs is carried out along the streets and even in schools. The event should also be carried out in safe and closed rooms with high number of security spies to mag down those selling the illegal drugs to the innocent youths. The effects of the drugs not only affect those who take the drug but also those who are in the vicinity (Platt 1). Work Citation Blanding, Michael. "There’s something about Molly." 26 January 2014. boston.com. Online. 12 April 2015. . Lim, Megan S. C., et al. "A Cross-Sectional Survey Of Young People Attending A Music Festival: Associations Between Drug Use And Musical Preference." Drug & Alcohol Review 27.4 (2008): 439-441. Academic Search Premier. Web. 12 Apr. 2015. Morten Hesse, Sébastien Tutenges. "Music and substance preferences among festival attendants." Drugs and Alcohol Today XII (2012): 82 - 88. Online. 12 April 2015. . Platt, Brian. "Music festivals need better strategies for party drugs, health advocates say." 9 August 2014. thestar.com. Online. 12 April 2015. . Theresa Martinus, John McAlaney, Liam J. McLaughlin, Hilary Smith. "Outdoor music festivals: Cacophonous consumption or melodious moderation?" Drugs: education, prevention, and policy XVII (2010): 795-807. Online. 12 April 2015. . Wilson, Hannah, et al. "Normalisation Of Recreational Drug Use Among Young People: Evidence About Accessibility, Use And Contact With Other Drug Users." Health Sociology Review 19.2 (2010): 164-175. Academic Search Premier. Web. 12 Apr. 2015. 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