Electronic Dance Music is making waves as a dominant music genre rivaling the likes of rock and roll and hip hop.
But with the rise of EDM comes a growing concern for the heavy drug use that occurs at its concerts, sending young adults and teenagers to the hospital and sometimes to their graves, Fox News reported.
Several people were hospitalized Wednesday for drug and alcohol related illnesses after an EDM concert for Swedish DJ Avicii in Boston. The convert venue was later cited by Boston police for allowing drunken guests inside, Fox News reported.
A 24-year-old man died last weekend at the Las Vegas-based Electric Daisy Carnival. In 2013, the deaths of two people during New York's Electric Zoo festival lead to the concert being canceled on the third day.
EDM fans say the drugs, such as molly, a pure form of ecstasy, heightens the experience.
"For me [while listening to electronic dance music], the drug makes the music almost sound better," an 18-year-old from New York who uses molly told Fox News.
But for others the heavy association between EDM and drug use is an unfortunate part of the lifestyle.
"Drugs have always had a place in club and dance music culture," publicist Jamie Krauss, who works with EDM artists, told Fox News. "Anytime you see people on drugs it is disturbing, especially to those of us who are so passionate about the music."
No matter how dangerous EDM culture may seem, it appears the genre is here to stay. EDM household names like Tiesto, Calvin Harris and David Guetta rake in at least $30 million a year for playing concerts and collaborating with recording artists, according to Fox News.
As far as the drug use is concerned, concertgoers say the reports are blown out of proportion.
"There are always drugs at rock, country, or hip hop shows," Steve Baltin, a music expert at Rolling Stone, told the station. "I saw drunk people at a Neil Diamond show, it happens everywhere."
