“Digital Drugs” – The New Way Teens Are Getting “High”

July 19th, 2010 | Add a Comment

iDosing is the latest fad to hit the internet. iDosing is advertised as a “digital drug” that will allegedly alter your state of consciousness in a “safe” way. It’s very questionable whether these “digital drugs” will stick or even become banned. iDosing is a new way for teens (the demographic iDosing caters to) to get ‘high’ legally.

At the surface iDosing is seemingly harmless. iDosing consists of several 15 minute tracks of hypnotizing music with titles such as, ‘cocaine’ ‘peyote’ ‘orgasm’ ect. There are videos on youtube of teens being videotaped while ‘getting high’ on iDosing. I found these to look incredibly forced. However, the placebo effect should always be taken seriously, as what these teens believe are the effects of the so called “drug.”

Parents don’t seem to be worried that their teens are listening to these music tracks. The music tracks seem to alter consciousness to the extent of relaxation music and meditation. It uses binaural tones that are similar to the ones psychiatrist use to ease their patients. Listening to the track entitled “marijuana” for 15 minutes won’t make you feel like you are stoned, yet the brain is very strong so the placebo effect cannot be ruled out. It seems that parents are more worried about the attraction their teens have to the concept of getting high and that this could progress into doing actual drugs. It is said that iDosing is safe and legal, however it’s questioned whether this could be considered a legitimate gateway drug.

The comments on the youtube videos of people’s experience iDosing are filled with things such as “why don’t you just do the real thing?” I tried listening to one of the tracks on iTunes; it gave me a good laugh. Yet labeling a 15 minute track called “cocaine” coupled with “this will alter your state of consciousness” is definitely dangerous to impressionable teenagers.

It intrigues me whether or not this seeming fad will catch on or fade away. I wonder what they creators’ thought process was; and if they are actually in denial of the serious repercussions of their product? They are probably overlooking the possible negative effects it could have on teens by the knowing this product will bring them in revenue.