Do Music Festivals Really Contribute to Drug Abuse?

The debate about whether or not music festivals contribute to the drug culture or not continues; however, recent studies reveal new information regarding just how much of an effect that they have on teenage drug abuse.

While new street drugs continue to sneak their way into music festivals, marijuana and alcohol still remain steadfast as the main contributor to the rampant drug use among teens attending these events. In order to determine just how much of an effect music festivals have on teenagers abusing drugs, DrugAbuse.com gathered over three million Instagram posts that referenced some of the biggest music festivals that go on throughout the United States, and all were broken down according to the references made in regard to specific drugs.

Out of all of the drugs mentioned, alcohol was the number one referenced – specifically 90% of all mentions regarding the Chili Cook-Off in Florida, were related to alcohol use, widely among teens who were present. Other festivals that had a majority of their Instagram posts reference illegal substances include: Marley Fest, which had 82% of its mentions related to marijuana use, Electric Daisy Carnival, which referenced MDMA in 43% of all its Instagram mentions, and 12% of all mentions about Coachella referenced cocaine.

However, the festival with the most drugs and teens present, proved to be Burning Man. Burning Man had the most references to DMT, mescaline, mushrooms and crack cocaine. Not only that, but another study done by the Center for Forensic Science Research & Education revealed that Ultra Music Festival in Miami is, in fact, filled with various drugs – with almost 72% of participants (including teens) admitting to using pot, cocaine, molly or ecstasy at the festival.

Teenagers love music, so they love music festivals, but the opportunity for teenagers using and abusing drugs and alcohol increases at such events.