The new craze being pitched at teenagers is the i-Dose; an audio file that allegedly induces the same kind of experience as drugs. In fact the binaural MP3 audio files even take their names from drugs including; methamphetamine, cocaine, crack, LSD and Crystal Meth.

The files range in strength from the standard ‘heroin’ track to a hardcore track called the “Gates of Hades’ which promises listeners “Smoke and torment. Weeping and gnashing of teeth. Death. Destruction”.

For as little as $U2.75 teenagers can download the audio file and take a trip. This new digital drug culture that is growing in popularity has sinister undertones because it is introducing young people to the drug scene in what seems to be the safety, privacy and comfort of their own home.

Paul Dillon, founder of Drug and Alcohol Research and Training Australia and Generation Next speaker said “We are seeing drug culture seep more and more into the youth market, where people can make a quick buck. That is a very sad part of this that they are targeting the group most vulnerable – the young who see this as being a cool thing to do.”

The websites are full of jargon synonymous with drugs and loaded with images of pills and chunks of hash. However it is all presented in a way that makes the drug scene look very acceptable and even a normal part of adult life.

According to the “I-Doser” website, they are the “industry leaders in binaural brainwave audio doses (that) powerfully alter your mood” and the i-Dose is a “Safe, effective, and legal alternative to recreational and prescription drugs,” adding “ use of the I-Doser Application and included or purchased doses should be used for entertainment purposes only.”.

But as Paul Dillon points out this is very dangerous form of entertainment because “The earlier you find yourself in that (drug) culture the more problems you are likely to have in the future.”

Experts like Paul Dillon are not concerned so much with the content of the downloads as they are with the drug culture that they support.

The internet is now seeing a whole barrage of adolescents in headphones writhing around on the floor in what looks like agony as they experience an i-Dose.

Traditionally the droning binaural beats based on alpha and delta waves have been used to induce a relaxed state; but here it is being used to ‘mimic’ the effect of hardcore drugs.

Writer Helen Splarn. Editor Dr Ramesh Manocha
Source: Sydney Morning Herald (Technology), i-Doser