With 226 people injured, 114 hospitalized and the death of a 15-year-old at the Electric Daisy Carnival (EDC) last June, raves have been under much scrutiny.
The question for most is how laser lights, neon colors and electronic beats blasting for a crowd of thousands has become such a dangerous event.
Known as the largest dance party in North America, the two-day electronic music festival at the Los Angeles Coliseum featured several stages and carnival rides that drew in 185,000 people, according to a CBS report.
Among the thousands of people who attend raves, some are EC students.
Tatiana, 26, geography major, began attending raves at 14 and has enjoyed them so far.
“I was fascinated by the music and never heard anything like it,” Tatiana said.
Tatiana said she was fortunate to have gone with a group of older and caring friends.
Some students think drugs are necessary to have a good time. Although many enjoy the feeling of good vibes and the nonstop dance party, the effects of one drug in particular, Ecstasy, are not to be taken lightly.
The sense of emotional well-being that Ecstasy users feel is from the chemical known as Methylenedioxymethamphetamine or MDMA, according to the report “Hooked,” shown on the History Channel.
When combined with the environment of raves, Ecstasy enchances the feelings of connectedness for users which makes it a very popular “rave drug” according to the book, “Rave culture and religion” by Graham St. John.
The chemical floods the brain with serotonin, triggering feelings of intimacy, openness and empathy. Although it is not physically addictive, psychological dependence can occur.
“When you’re that young, you don’t think of the consequences of putting all of those chemicals in your body. I’m actually glad that most raves have an 18 and over age limit now. I was way too young and careless,” Tatiana said.
Following the death of 15-year-old Sasha Rodriquez at EDC, several raves in L.A. were canceled. Another insomniac event, Nocturnal, took place this September at the National Orange Show (NOS) Events Center in San Bernardino and strictly enforced an 18 years-or-older age policy.
Daniel, 23, engineering major has consecutively attended EDC for the last three years and attended his second Nocturnal Festival last September.
“Security (at Nocturnal) was a lot more thorough than in past years. It was also a lot less crowded since a lot of the younger kids weren’t allowed in,” Daniel said. “The scene has exploded just in the last three years.
It was nice to not have to see young kids drugged up.”