On a high

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On a high

Monday, 13 January 2020 | IANS

On a high

After three deaths at Sunburn, it’s time to focus on drugs at EDM fests

That music galas, especially electronic music dance (EDM) festivals are often associated with abundant drug abuse is nothing new. In recent times, if raves have grown more popular among youth, so has the drug culture among the attendees.

The deaths of three tourists at the recent Sunburn festival in Goa are widely being seen as the latest example of a direct link between EDM festivals and alleged use of illegal substances. The event has come under constant scrutiny after these deaths. Many have speculated that drug overdose was the reason, although the real cause of the deaths is still to be officially ascertained. Nevertheless, the incident has raised questions, throwing light on the increasing use of drugs by people at such big festivals.

Clive (name changed), who was at Sunburn this year, says that even if one were to assume that the deaths happened due to drugs consumed during the fest, it does not necessarily mean these were smuggled inside the venue. “The reason can be an overdose, but two out of the three men died outside the venue and not inside. Before entering the venue, people consume various things to get a kick while watching the show. About the third person, I don’t know if he consumed drugs. We can’t say for sure because he was shifted to the hospital after the event was over and he died the next day,” Clive said, adding that “security arrangements at the fest were really tight.”

Which is where, however, Clive’s next observation stumps you. He did spot people having drugs inside the venue despite stringent security checks. “When I was entering the venue, they thoroughly checked me. However, I discovered many people were smoking weed inside the venue. They might have smuggled a few sticks inside cigarette packets. However, I did not see anyone snorting coke. The police were around with trained sniffer dogs,” he said.

There were others who too corroborate Clive’s assertion. Ronaldo, who flew to Goa from Delhi to attend the festival, said. “I had a very bad experience. Despite security I saw people consuming illegal substances. Some of them carried the drugs in their undergarments or their socks.”

IGP Jaspal Singh of Goa Police insists that there’s always a massive police arrangement at such venues. “There was a huge police force outside as well as inside the venue. Inside, there was anti-narcotic cell with well trained dog squads. There was Raman spectrometer, which tests drugs in real time. The device gives you an indication whether the material is a drug or not. There was zero availability of drugs inside the venue because the police controlled everything,” Singh claimed. However, he acknowledged there are some drugs that can be concealed easily. “There are drugs that can be taken to the venue easily. People can use currency notes like blotting paper, and then it becomes a challenge for us to trace them. This time, we had a lot of meetings with the organisers and tried our best to provide 100 per cent security. Still, we regret the loss of three lives. The cause of the deaths is not confirmed yet,” Singh explained.

Amid all the fuss, international DJ Luciano, who was at the fest this year and who is himself a reformed drug victim, urged people to get rid of such addiction. “Drugs are impure. I know it’s easy to say this but one must realise the value of self-discretion when it comes to the use of drugs, rather than blame it on the authorities. I discovered something as pure as music can help me come out of it much faster,” he said.

Indian DJ Mr Bose detests that EDM has become synonymous with drugs. “There’s a myth attached to EDM. Some people think EDM is all about drugs but it actually depends on the person. I don’t take drugs and I don’t expect that my audience has to in order to listen to my music. We should value the art of EDM,” Mr Bose, whose original name is Shiladitya Bose, concluded.

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