ATTENTION DOPE FIENDS AND JUNKIES

[Teacher Mark 53]

“Digital drugs” targeting kids

I got an interesting question from a concerned mother. Her 17-year-old told her about something called “idozer.” She checked it out online, and thought it might be dangerous.

But she didn’t mention exactly what it was in her e-mail. So, I looked it up. And I have to say, this is a weird one.

An idozer is referred to as a digital drug. It’s the idea that you can get high using technology. You don’t need to take drugs. All you need is your computer or an MP3 player.

It’s a strange idea. But don’t confiscate your kids’ MP3 players just yet. Let me explain exactly what it is. Then, I’ll give you my take.

What’s an idozer?

The idea is to use sound to induce altered mental states. An idozer is usually an MP3 file. It’s not exactly a song. It’s more of a track of different sounds. idozers claim to simulate the effects of different drugs. There are idozers for marijuana, painkillers, stimulants and more. But because no real drugs are involved, it’s considered legal and safe.

idozers are based on the idea of “binaural beats.” You hear beats when two tones of slightly different frequencies are played. The two tones interfere with one another. It sounds like the volume goes up and down at a regular pace. Anyone who’s played an out-of-tune guitar knows what I mean.

Beats are just part of the nature of acoustics. “Binaural beats” means the two tones are separated between two ears. The left ear gets one tone. The right ear gets a slightly different one. You use headphones to do this. In this case the sounds don’t physically interfere with each other. But your brain substitutes the same effect. You still hear beats.

Some believe using different tones affects the brain differently. Hence, you can create different sensations or mental states.

Legitimate purposes?

The use of binaural beats isn’t always drug related. Some claim it can be used for relaxation, sleeping disorders and meditation. Others say it can stimulate thinking. One site I saw claimed it could increase your IQ.

But every site that used the term idozer was drug related.

Is this for real?

Music can certainly affect your mood. That’s why certain songs can make you cry. And it’s why you pick upbeat songs for your workout playlist. But idozers aren’t really music.

I’m no expert on the subject. But I did look through several reputable studies on binaural beats. None showed evidence of significant change in mental activity. But some people swear it works. Could it be the placebo effect? If it’s real, could it be harmful?

I don’t have those answers. But I’m pretty skeptical myself. Some sites try to sell idozers. They can run as much as $5 for a 30-second MP3 file. Other sites had “special” headphones to purchase. This smells like a scam.

But scam or not, parents should be concerned. Sites pushing idozers don’t directly advocate drug use. But they look favorably on the effects of drugs. Some claim the effects of serious drugs like heroin and LSD. Being interested in these things isn’t good. And it may be a small jump to the real thing.

http://www.komando.com/tips/index.aspx?id=5095

[one...two...tree 2,762]

But scam or not, parents should be concerned. Sites pushing idozers don’t directly advocate drug use. But they look favorably on the effects of drugs. Some claim the effects of serious drugs like heroin and LSD. Being interested in these things isn’t good. And it may be a small jump to the real thing.

It could equally be said that perhaps with these digital drugs, kids who are curious about experimenting with real drugs while go with the safer alternative. Both arguments are mere speculation...every kid and every situation is different.

[SaadBell 0]

That is absolutely insane, I am not being mean but if you have any kind of formal education on biology and medicine you would be laughing too. I can't believe someone would put their name on that mess.

[Trompe le Monde 1,107]

Back in the old days, kids just use to watch Pink Floyd: Live at the Acropolis

[Nagishkaw 510]

Back in the old days, kids just use to watch Pink Floyd: Live at the Acropolis

Some grown up ' kids' still do.

[SaadBell 0]

Can druggy MP3s get you high?

Tim Dowling

Tuesday May 29, 2007

The Guardian

We all know that music can be mood-altering, but so can the weather, or a tax demand. But can a CD actually make you high? This is the bold claim of the people at I-Doser.com, whose Recreational Simulations CDs are said to "synchronise your brainwaves to achieve a simulated state of mind". Each track contains "advanced binaural beats" mixed with a "carrier tone of white noise and ambient soundscapes", producing in the listener a range of altered states including "mood lift, euphoria, sedation and hallucination".

Somewhat apprehensively, I purchased the MP3 version of Recreation Simulations 1. It costs £9.34 and contains four tracks - "Marijuana", "Cocaine", "Opium" and "Peyote" - which, taken together, represent a veritably lethal cocktail of sound. It didn't seem wise to try to listen to them one after the other, especially in the car. I found a quiet place, put on some headphones, and awaited oblivion.

So are these tracks really an effective simulation of the four title substances? Without a full understanding of precisely how the process works, or the time to conduct exhaustive blind tests with the relevant drugs, I can only say this: no. I've never actually taken peyote before, but I'm pretty sure it's not meant to leave you bored and irritable. In among the soundscape is the noise of someone sliding their fingers along guitar strings, with just a hint of a helicopter in the distance.

"Marijuana" sounds like a combination of tape hiss and a dishwasher kicking into its rinse cycle, exactly the sort of ambient nonsense that is usually aimed at people who are already on something quite strong. "Cocaine" failed to fill me with an uncontrollable desire to go to a wine bar and tell everyone how I kicked ### in that morning's marketing meeting over and over again, although I did get quite edgy waiting for the file to download.

Then, towards the very end of "Opium", I began to zone out unpleasantly while trying to write an email. My eyes went like saucers, and my conscious mind slipped its moorings and wandered off. I looked at the clock: 11.30am. Funny how it happens at the same time every day.

[pedroh 21]

Back in the old days, kids just use to watch Pink Floyd: Live at the Acropolis

watch 2001 space odissey with the pink floyd soundtrack!!

[jundp 191]

Back in the old days, kids just use to watch Pink Floyd: Live at the Acropolis

watch 2001 space odissey with the pink floyd soundtrack!!

Beat me to it

Honestly, I get "high" off certain music. And it ain't cuz I'm a druggie.

[pedroh 21]

zero 7!! that music relaxes me a lot

or far from the maddening crows by Chicane, one of the best trance-ambient cd's ever

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

zero 7!! that music relaxes me a lot

or far from the maddening crows by Chicane, one of the best trance-ambient cd's ever

That's my boy.

[Mags 112]

zero 7!! that music relaxes me a lot

or far from the maddening crows by Chicane, one of the best trance-ambient cd's ever

And if anyone wants to buy this CD, don't pay $38.00 as Amazon is currently advertising it at. Order it from Amazon UK for 7 quid ($14).

[one...two...tree 2,762]

zero 7!! that music relaxes me a lot

or far from the maddening crows by Chicane, one of the best trance-ambient cd's ever

I had no idea who they were until I looked them up on YouTube. I listened to Saltwater many times on streaming radio. There's a bunch of stations on iTunes ....DI.fm, DanceradioTrance, Pure.fm...listen to it through my headphones at work.

[Teacher Mark 53]

That is absolutely insane, I am not being mean but if you have any kind of formal education on biology and medicine you would be laughing too. I can't believe someone would put their name on that mess.

Are you referring to me? If so I would inform you that I posted this as a joke. I have chosen to use humor, not drugs OR alcohol, to escape reality. It's how I cope.

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

Hugs and drugs.

[Fandango 1,440]

I wore out my Chicane cd when I listened to it everytime I went tanning...