Running Head: ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHIES: EDM & DRUGS

Annotated Bibliographies for Electronic Dance Music & Drugs

Carlos A. Pando
University of Texas at El Paso

ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHIES: EDM & DRUGS

Wesley, C., Justin, G., & Jessica, A. (2014, August 05). Deaths draw attention to drugs
in edm scene. The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved from http://articles.baltimoresun.com/201408-05/news/bal-deaths-draw-attention-to-drugs-in-edm-scene_1_moonrise-festival-edmscene-mad-decent-block-party
Case, George and Anderson thoroughly research the most recent accidents caused by drug
use on the electronic dance music scene. There is an all-day music show in Baltimore,
and the journalists are trying to create awareness in its attendees by recreating all
previous individuals that required immediate hospitalization from events around the
country. The journalists focus on the supposed immaturity and recklessness of the
audience, while praising the show itself and the stage spectacle. MDMA, or molly, is the
most consistent drug that appears at these kind of festivals. The journalists state that
although it may be impossible to have a drug free event, it is most likely that the
authorities should focus less on discipline actions and more on education. In comparison
to the other sources, this article gives strong statements backed up by facts and heavily
relies on the comments of attendees from electronic dance music festivals. The journalists
give strong opinions on how to approach this issue. For the use of this assignment, this
source will aid with accurate facts with accidents surrounding drugs in the electronic
dance music scene.

ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHIES: EDM & DRUGS

Anderson, T. L. (2009). Understanding the alteration and decline of a music scene:

Observations from rave culture. Sociological Forum, 24(2), 307-336.
Anderson provides a detailed analysis of the relation between drugs and electronic dance
music. From analyzing the generation involved to the social control and fragmentation,
the author explains thoroughly every aspect of the issue. Although the author gives
personal opinions, he also provides facts to support her claims. Anderson mentions how
the presence of drugs at an event affects attendance due to negative perceptions and
creates fear among the attendees due to its consequences. The author talks about the
political issues that have been arisen due to the misuse of prohibited substances, such as
MDMA (molly), by appealing to the Drug Enforcement Agencys Controlled Substances
Act. He states that most clubs and organizations are in favor of hiring undercover agents
to patrol the show area and enforce a drug free environment.
Very few clubs have completely shut down, but many others forego the opportunity of
hosting an electronic dance music due to enforcement of this act. In comparison to the
other sources, this text by Anderson gives a thorough in depth analytical text backed up
with strong facts and professional unbiased opinions. This source will provide the later
assignment with strong credibility and a high use of professional opinions backed up by
facts.

ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHIES: EDM & DRUGS

Unknown (Producers). (2004) Designer drugs: from the rave to the grave [DVD]. United
States: Unknown.
Raves are all-night dance parties characterized light shows, smoke, and loud electronic
dance music. At their beginning in the early 1980s, raves were secretive events held in
locations that required a pass code to enter the building. This source explains the main
issues regarding drugs in the rave scene among teens who are nave about these
substances. Many attendees at these events end up using an analog drug, which is a drug
derived from another parent drug, but is designed to be different and therefore create
different effects in your system. Another substance mentioned in the video is a
hallucinogen, which causes hallucinations and can distort the senses in a number of ways.
The most popular drug used at these events is ecstasy, but it causes a dramatic increase in
body temperature that can cause death if not treated immediately. These analog designer
drugs can be hundreds of times stronger than the original drug that they imitate, therefore
making them life-threatening.
This article claims that peer pressure may be the reason for drug use at raves, and that
refusal skills would help to resist such pressure. This source is not very credible and is
not backed up by facts, yet it gives a good explanation of what drugs are present at a rave.
It creates a visual representation of teens (the predominant audience in this scene) and
how drugs affect them directly and indirectly. This source will create a strong background
for what a rave consists of and what drugs are consistently appearing such an events.

ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHIES: EDM & DRUGS

Mascola, L., Dassey, D., Fogleman, S., Paulozzi, L., & Reed, C. G. (2010). Ecstasy overdoses at
a new years eve rave Los Angeles, California, 2010. JAMA: Journal of The
American

Medical Association, 304(6), 629-632.

Ecstasy is an illegal amphetamine used in abundance as a stimulant at raves or electronic

dance music events. On January 4, 2010, seven attendees at a New Years Eve Party in
Los Angeles with over 45,000 people had to visit a hospital due to MDMA-related
symptoms; one later died due to drug overdose. Within 12 hours of the rave, 18 more
patients were admitted for the same causes, but 10 out of those 18 combined the drug
with alcohol, which enhances the effects of the designer drug and worsens its effects as a
consequence. Most of these patients remained hospitalized for at least one month. These
accidents still managed to happen even though there were LAPD officers, undercover
narcotics officers, roving EMS technicians, and 14 ambulances that were stationed onsite.
Although this source is less recent, it still has credibility in its relation to real life events,
mainly at raves. Its claim is that designer drugs mixed with alcohol will most likely result
in extremely dangerous life-threatening conditions. This source is beneficial for the later
assignment for explaining how drugs affect the notoriety and safety of every electronic
dance music event.

ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHIES: EDM & DRUGS

Glover, T. D. (2003). Regulating the rave scene: Exploring the policy alternatives of government.
Leisure Sciences, 25(4), 307-320.
This extensive document depicts the recent interest government officials have taken in
the United States regarding drug use at electronic dance music events. Most officials in
this country believe that this scene is detrimental for our youth due to the drug abuse and
illegal alcohol consumption related to it. While violence is uncommon at raves, several
cases have been reported where drug abuse has led to overdoses and death. Even though
these events happen worldwide, most cases are reported in North America. CBS News
reported that in just three years (1997-2000) Florida had 40 deaths that involved ecstasy.
The intent of Glover in this document is to explore several policy alternatives that
government officials might consider in response to these drug issues in the rave scene.
The author explains that his information about policy alternatives may be biased and
superficial, but acknowledges that his readers should interpret his text as an objective
truth.
This source extensively explains all aspects of the rave community, and even talks in
depth about the dress code and the venues in the scene. The authors policy alternatives
are thoroughly analyzed and consider real life events that have happened over the years.
The source can be used to a great extent and it will support the next assignment with
strong facts and background about raves and electronic dance music effects.

ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHIES: EDM & DRUGS

Anderson, T.L. (2014). Molly deaths and the failed war on drugs. SAGE Pub Journals, 13(4), 4853.
Anderson discusses an incident that happened at Electric Zoo (EZoo) festival on Randall
Island, New York. Around 100,000 people attended, in which thirty-one were arrested on
drug charges, four were hospitalized, and two died at the hospital. Another 19-year-old
college student died from MDMA toxicity that same day in Washington, D.C at a rave.
The author describes how these deaths have motivated Congress to advocate a law called
the Illicit Drug Anti-Proliferation Act (2003 RAVE Act), but she states that this law fails
to prevent drug use and that it does more harm than good. Raves originated in the early
1980s, but millennials have taken over this scene and changed its perspective
tremendously. There was a 128% increase in emergency room visits among MDMA users
between 2005 and 2011. Free water stations have become controversial among
government officials because they see this as promoting drug use and accommodate its
users. Generally, the RAVE Act discourages rave promoters from taking the precautions
needed to protect their customers.
This source detailed information about the RAVE Act, what it stands for, and how,
according to the author, it harms people instead of helping them. Also, it brings up very
recent accidents regarding MDMA abuse and other drug incidents. This source will lend
credibility to the next assignment, besides introducing the RAVE Act which makes a
valid and factual connection between the government and these events.

ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHIES: EDM & DRUGS

Blanding, Michael (2014, January). Theres something about molly. The Boston Globe, 57(4),
47-52.
Small raves usually gather around 700 participants, while big ones can hold up to
250,000 per day. Most are in their late teens or twenties, and many are under the
influence of a drug called MDMA, or molly. The effects include increased feeling of
connection to others and expansive wellbeing. The magazine article mentions a specific
accident related to MDMA abuse at an Avicii (a DJ) concert in Boston, where dozens
were sent to the hospital. Many attendees at raves say that drug use in moderation is not a
bad thing. A man even said MDMA never killed anyone, more people die from alcohol
than MDMA. If you dont know how to do it, dont do it. There are hundreds of
accidents in North America involving drug abuse. A group of scientists gathered pills sold
at events and 45 percent contained MDMA and something else, or no MDMA at all. A
police officer said: Its a tough situation, the best we can do is try and keep ahead of it to
keep people safe.
This magazine article includes many subjective opinions and statements made by rave
attendees rather than official facts. It uses many examples from accidents throughout
North America. This article wont give strong credibility to the next assignment, but it
will create a picture of what rave attendees think about the use of drugs and its effects.

ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHIES: EDM & DRUGS

Hunt, G., Moloney, M., & Evan, K. (2010). Youth, drugs, and nightlife. New York:
Routledge.
This book examines the relationships between the use of drugs among teens and the
electronic dance music scene. This books includes hundreds of interviews with people
who attend these events, DJs and promoters, and the authors themselves. The authors
carefully explain the epidemiology of the rave scene; from understanding youth cultures
to clubs and drugs. This also includes a deep explanation of how United States drug
policy directly affects the social control of the rave scene. Some of the interview subjects
in the book describe how they enjoy the pleasures and benefits of ecstasy, but others
regret taking it since they needed hospitalization. They state how drug use depends on the
gender and sexuality of the individual; women are most likely to get drugged by and to
experience victimization, such as rape.
This source gives a broad explanation of how officials and people approach the use of
drugs at raves and how to deal with the issue. Overall, the interviews give an image on
how ravers feel about the scene. The interviews in this source will give weak credibility
to this assignment since they would be considered subjective opinions.