Even though snorting, popping pills and smoking up are still popular, new ways to get high are now being discovered.  A new drug has gained popularity, and this drug is introduced into the youth via headphones. Yes! You heard it right; it can only be taken in the form of music. As unusual as it sounds, one of the latest additions to the world of high is I-Dosing. It is a digital drug, and kids are getting high on the same level as LSD thanks to Mp3s.

I-Dosing works by using ‘binaural beats,’ or playing music with two different frequencies, and can be heard only through headphones. The two different frequencies playing in each ear separately is supposed to interfere with brain waves and influence moods. Research shows the use of ‘binaural beats’ dates back several centuries, discovered in 1839 by physicist Heinrich Wilhelm Dove and has been used as a sort of therapy to treat insomnia, induce lucid dreaming, increase alertness, reduce anxiety, and aid in relaxation. On the other hand, in recent times, this drug is being abused. Some have reportedly received the same state of ecstasy as from any other narcotics. Where imagination takes a crazy turn and gibberish ramblings become beautiful words of poetry, being ‘under the influence’ of marijuana, or ‘the possession of marijuana’ can put you behind the bars.

However, getting high on ‘digital drugs’, is not as complicated. So far you can go undetected if you are on a ‘digital high’ and there is no rule about the possession of these tracks. Scoring the tracks aren’t as difficult either.  You find a dealer online who hooks you up with couple of tunes, find yourself a comfortable position in a dark room, put on your headphones, and enter a state of euphoria. Youth can purchase tracks that will ostensibly bring about the same high as marijuana, cocaine, or opium. The ‘digital drugs’ are not only easy to access, but also come with a 40-page instruction manual so that the users can achieve the maximum desired effects.

Despite the fact that ‘digital drugs’ have not gained much popularity among regular marijuana smokers, who consider this to be a hoax to hoard money out of people gullible enough and usually intrigued by such activities, school kids seem to be profoundly attracted to it. Reports suggest that a number of kids at a school in Oklahoma have been caught ‘I-Dosing’ on their Mp3s and iPods. “Kids are going to flock to these sites just to see what it is about and it can lead them to other places,” Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs spokesman, Mark Woodward, told News 9.

Comments regarding I-Dosing by freelance writer Ron Doyle, in an article published on the Psychology Today website, also suggests that I-Dosing is an outgrowth of teen culture’s ongoing fascination with altered states. While the high created by I-Dosing remains dubious, the creator of the site www.i-doser.com holds adamant views about how binaural beats can be used to influence moods. He states, “We had the idea that, because they can be used to emulate feelings, we could map those to create a simulated mood or experience.” The website allows users to download the ‘doses’ to their pc or straight to their iPods or iPhones. The audio file doses are categorized as (i). recreational (Absinthe, acid, GHB, Heroine) (ii). hallucinogenic (LSD, ketamine) and (iii). prescription (Oxy and Demerol). The site also has links to steroid doses, like JuiceIT!, described as designed for the sports workout user.

Dealing the music doses is profitable and the business is legal since the dealer is only selling music. The prices of the ‘doses’ start at $5 or less, and are about 5min-30mins in length. “With proper use, I-Doser is a safe effective and fun way to experience a simulated mood. It also offers many meditation benefits,” Nick Ashton the founder of www.i-doser.com says.  The question still remains: does it really work?

The response by the website users accounts was positive. www.i-doser.com created a poll for users to check on the effectiveness of this new technology. 868 people voted in total, 244 people or 28 percent, said “some doses work, some don’t.”Eighteen percent, of 156 people, said they felt the effects almost every time, while 125 people were the most positive, saying “It BLOWS MY MIND!” Ten percent, or 91 people, said only a few doses have worked for them, while another 78 people say they have felt the effects of only one dose. Altogether, 80 percent of people have said they have felt some sort of effect at least once. The remaining 20 percent of people said it is a complete placebo – they never felt anything.

Teen drug abuse statistics from http://blog.teenhelp.com clearly indicate a rise in drug abuse among teenagers. The number of teens reported using marijuana is at 39 percent, which is an increase from 32 percent. The number of teens using Ecstasy as a party drug is also up from six percent to 10 percent. The rapid increase in drug use in adolescence clearly indicates that kids are trying to forego reality. However, it is still not clear if ‘digital drugs’ are replacing the traditional ones, since many drug abusers are not satisfied with the quality of ‘high’. I-Dosing may not be as effective as weed or LSD to get high, but seems to have therapeutic benefits. While parents don’t need to worry about the direct effects these ‘digital drugs’ are causing their kids, the attitude the youth is developing about experimenting with drugs is eerie.

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