Published by the Hispanic Institute of Social Issues in Phoenix, Arizona
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Getting High With Music - Teenagers and I-Dosing
Phoenix, Arizona – Music is to teenagers and young people what the
discipline of silence is said to be for spirituality. Adults are not even
close from being excluded from the influence and powerful attraction
of music, but when it comes to the younger crowd, music is almost
vital.
As vital as it can be, music can also be harmful; particularly when
teenagers and young people use it to produce effects in them similar
to illegal drugs like marijuana or cocaine. That is exactly what a
growing trend among kids consists of: listening to music to get high.
Getting high with music –also called I-dosing– is closer to a young
person’s mind, as close as it can be. This “drug” can be easily
reached through a natural combination of a teenager’s favorite
pastimes: the Internet, an MP3, and a set of earphones.
If you are a concerned parent and believe this article is just going to
give unhealthy ideas to your child, perhaps you may be interested in
knowing that I-dosing even has a Web site entirely dedicated to the
topic. After all, getting high with music is not illegal. At least not yet.
The site, called I-doser.com, presents itself as the “leader in binaural
brainwave audio doses,” and promotes its products as something
that can “powerfully alter your moods.” The site has media social
presence in popular sites like Facebook, Myspace and Twitter, yes,
the virtual communities your kids likely hang out with their friends for
hours.
Binaural waves are a scientific fact and the subject of
neurophysiologists’ research, but the phenomenon consists,
essentially, in sound frequencies and how the brain perceives them.
The use of binaural waves is anything but new, but its use by
teenagers to purportedly cause in them illegal drug-like effects is
considered a recent trend.
So what exactly is I-dosing? Basically, I-dosing consists in listening to
music, mainly repetitive, tedious sounds or beats. A calm mood and
atmosphere, a dim-lit room, silence and a quality set of stereo
headphones supposedly maximize the effects. As the annoying
“music” is self-induced and its intended effects reach the brain, it
allegedly produces sensations and moods similar to drugs like
Ecstasy.
Ecstasy produces pleasurable effects in users, like increased energy
of self-confidence. Other Ecstasy effects generate feelings of
acceptance or peacefulness. However, some YouTube videos show
opposite effects when young people induce themselves into I-dosing.
The fact is kids can and are getting high by listening to special music
based on monotonous tones and beats that can be found on CD’s or
MP3’s and listened to on I-pods, I-phones or personal computers.
Many of the YouTube videos about I-dosing claim the effects are
similar to cannabis or cocaine. Several users of the super popular
self-broadcasting site have uploaded from songs to self experiments
to actual I-dosing sessions. Other users mock and deny such effects.
Also known as a digital and legal drug, I-dosing is similar to illegal
drugs. You find a “dealer” on the Internet who “hooks you up” with
the “drug” by using your earphones as “drug paraphernalia.” I-doser.
com even offers “free doses” for individuals who are 18 years of age
of older, according to its disclaimer.
How dangerous is I-dosing? I-dosing is not really a drug. However, I-
dozing music seems to cause at least a temporary altered state of
mind. In any case, if parents feel they should seek professional help,
they should do so without hesitation.
discipline of silence is said to be for spirituality. Adults are not even
close from being excluded from the influence and powerful attraction
of music, but when it comes to the younger crowd, music is almost
vital.
As vital as it can be, music can also be harmful; particularly when
teenagers and young people use it to produce effects in them similar
to illegal drugs like marijuana or cocaine. That is exactly what a
growing trend among kids consists of: listening to music to get high.
Getting high with music –also called I-dosing– is closer to a young
person’s mind, as close as it can be. This “drug” can be easily
reached through a natural combination of a teenager’s favorite
pastimes: the Internet, an MP3, and a set of earphones.
If you are a concerned parent and believe this article is just going to
give unhealthy ideas to your child, perhaps you may be interested in
knowing that I-dosing even has a Web site entirely dedicated to the
topic. After all, getting high with music is not illegal. At least not yet.
The site, called I-doser.com, presents itself as the “leader in binaural
brainwave audio doses,” and promotes its products as something
that can “powerfully alter your moods.” The site has media social
presence in popular sites like Facebook, Myspace and Twitter, yes,
the virtual communities your kids likely hang out with their friends for
hours.
Binaural waves are a scientific fact and the subject of
neurophysiologists’ research, but the phenomenon consists,
essentially, in sound frequencies and how the brain perceives them.
The use of binaural waves is anything but new, but its use by
teenagers to purportedly cause in them illegal drug-like effects is
considered a recent trend.
So what exactly is I-dosing? Basically, I-dosing consists in listening to
music, mainly repetitive, tedious sounds or beats. A calm mood and
atmosphere, a dim-lit room, silence and a quality set of stereo
headphones supposedly maximize the effects. As the annoying
“music” is self-induced and its intended effects reach the brain, it
allegedly produces sensations and moods similar to drugs like
Ecstasy.
Ecstasy produces pleasurable effects in users, like increased energy
of self-confidence. Other Ecstasy effects generate feelings of
acceptance or peacefulness. However, some YouTube videos show
opposite effects when young people induce themselves into I-dosing.
The fact is kids can and are getting high by listening to special music
based on monotonous tones and beats that can be found on CD’s or
MP3’s and listened to on I-pods, I-phones or personal computers.
Many of the YouTube videos about I-dosing claim the effects are
similar to cannabis or cocaine. Several users of the super popular
self-broadcasting site have uploaded from songs to self experiments
to actual I-dosing sessions. Other users mock and deny such effects.
Also known as a digital and legal drug, I-dosing is similar to illegal
drugs. You find a “dealer” on the Internet who “hooks you up” with
the “drug” by using your earphones as “drug paraphernalia.” I-doser.
com even offers “free doses” for individuals who are 18 years of age
of older, according to its disclaimer.
How dangerous is I-dosing? I-dosing is not really a drug. However, I-
dozing music seems to cause at least a temporary altered state of
mind. In any case, if parents feel they should seek professional help,
they should do so without hesitation.
By eduardo Barraza January 26, 2011
I-dosing is similar to illegal drugs.
You find a “dealer” on the Internet
who “hooks you up” with the “drug”
by using your earphones as “drug
paraphernalia.”
Photo illustration by Eduardo Barraza
You find a “dealer” on the Internet
who “hooks you up” with the “drug”
by using your earphones as “drug
paraphernalia.”
Photo illustration by Eduardo Barraza
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Eduardo Barraza is a journalist and writer,
Barriozona Magazine's editor, and director of
the Hispanic Insitute of Social Issues.
E-mail: editor@barriozona.com
Barriozona Magazine's editor, and director of
the Hispanic Insitute of Social Issues.
E-mail: editor@barriozona.com
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