Ravealation - Drug Use

Drug Use

In the U.S., law enforcement agencies have branded the subculture as a purely drug-centric culture, usually drugs such as Marijuana, MDMA, 2CB, LSD, DMT, Amphetamine and Ketamine, similar to the hippie movement of the 1960s. However, this is almost universally a false association, as the vast majority of raves and similar events are legitimate social gatherings, most commonly organized by local businesses or entertainment companies, and rarely, if not almost never, condone or promote illegal activities.

Groups that have addressed alleged drug use at raves include the Electronic Music Defense and Education Fund (EMDEF), The Toronto Raver Info Project, and DanceSafe, all of which advocate harm reduction approaches. Paradoxically, drug safety literature (such as those distributed by DanceSafe) is incorrectly or falsely used as evidence of condoned drug use. Other groups, such as Drug Free America Foundation, Inc., slanderously and falsely characterize raves as being rife with gang activity, rape, robbery, and drug-related deaths. Again, this is universally a falsehood, as organized raves are often more safe and supervised than 'normal' parties held by individuals in their homes.

In 2005, Antonio Maria Costa, Executive Director of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, advocated drug testing on highways as a countermeasure against drug use at raves. However, this was shot down as profiling and false association between legitimate social gatherings and implied drug use.

In recent times, as opposed to the past decades, rave venues have taken to hiring local law enforcement to reduce drug use.