At least, that’s what Oklahoma News 9 is reporting about a phenomenon called “i-dosing,” which involves finding an online dealer who can hook you up with “digital drugs” that get you high through your headphones. I-dosing involves donning headphones and listening to “music” — largely a droning noise — which the sites peddling the sounds promise will get you high. One of the tracks teens are listening to is “Gates of Hades,” which is available for free on YouTube, but I’m guessing these online dealers are banking on teens needing a stronger high after awhile. Those who want to get addicted to the “drugs” can purchase tracks that will purportedly bring about the same effects of marijuana, cocaine, opium and peyote. While street drugs rarely come with instruction manuals, potential digital drug users are advised to buy a 40-page guide so that they learn how to properly get high on MP3s.
– The latest drug trend sweeping the nation has nothing to do with pharmaceuticals. Kids are getting high on MP3s, Wired reports, pointing to an Oklahoma News 9 report (at left) on the phenomenon known as “i-dosing.” Supposedly, just by putting on headphones and listening to music—which is really “a droning noise,” writes Ryan Singel—you can experience effects similar to those of marijuana, cocaine, opium, and peyote. Officials are concerned i-dosing will act as a gateway drug to actual drugs, but Singel doesn’t seem too concerned: The most pressing issue is how to tell “if a teen with headphones on is i-dosing or just listening to Justin Bieber.” Annika Harris of The Frisky agrees: She listened to “Gates of Hades,” one of the free i-dosing tracks, “and the only feeling I felt was annoyance,” she writes.