Demystifying the Rave Scene: Music Is The Drug

In our Demystifying the Rave Scene series, we’ve been doing our best to explain some of the more obscure (if not controversial) characteristics of the rave scene.

We’ve talked about the negative (and unfair) stigma that surrounds ravers, why people go to raves in the first place and the meaning behind all the outfits. But there’s one topic that we’ve only touched upon briefly: safety and the drug presence in EDM.

Like I’ve said in a previous post about festival safety, we are not promoting or encouraging illegal drug use. Drugs and related paraphernalia are banned at festivals and can result in your expulsion from the event.

I’ll say this once and once only. Drugs are not a cornerstone of EDM or raves. Do some people consume drugs at shows? Yes. Does everyone? No. Are drugs essential to the raving experience? No.

Ravers attend events out of sheer love. We are passionate about our music, our rave families and the close-knit community that flourishes within festival grounds.

We don’t shell out thousands of dollars for shows while so out of our minds on drugs that we forget what we saw. That makes no sense.

We don’t need the drugs to enjoy the show.

We go to shows purely because we love the music and community.  

In the same way that liquor is not a staple of social activity, drugs are not a staple of the raving experience. You don’t need to be drunk to talk to people, and you don’t need drugs to enjoy a rave. Plain and simple.  

I know many ravers who rave completely sober, and they love every second of it. The laser light shows are a big enough stimulant, the closeness with your rave family is an aphrodisiac. The act of raving in of itself is a natural high. And sober ravers aren’t the minority at shows.

Insomniac has cultivated a Consciousness Group that provides a safe and sober sanctuary for ravers at EDC. They spread a message about the positivity of a clean and sober raving lifestyle and look after others who may be overwhelmed by everything that’s happening.

Music Is The Drug.

Raves are a place where we celebrate our love for this music that has shaped our lifestyles and has become integral to our world.

Unfortunately, some people will attend events with the “let’s get messed up” mindset.

The takeaway of all of this is that we don’t need drugs to love our music and community. EDM is the natural high we need.

Ready to rave? Rave safe with our 10 commandments and rave stylishly with our Festival Season Collection.