The Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs has recently raised concerns about binaural audio doses, a new digital drug fad that has hit YouTube and other Internet file-sharing websites. Binaural beats are seemingly harmless audio sounds that are designed to induce states of relaxation or excitement. The new versions of these audio tracks actually attempt to mimic the effects of illicit drugs. The government fears that teenagers using these free audio downloads to get high could experience the effects as a gateway drug.
Parents have also been understandably alarmed by the titles of some of the “fixes,” namely marijuana, cocaine, heroin, opium, and alcohol. Although there may be some mild and temporary effects from mind-altering programs, there is no known addictive potential. Although these types of audio programs may be the cause of genuine parental concern about their use, leading to increased risk of curiosity about illicit drugs, I believe that the real concern is the underlying reason behind the seemingly insatiable desire to Look for altered states of consciousness.
This type of escapism serves to temporarily get away from one’s own feelings. The continued avoidance of feelings (particularly through drugs) robs oneself of the valuable directional information that feelings can provide. For example, most people believe that they want more money. However, money is simply a means to an end. What people are likely to really want is not money, but the freedom, comfort, opportunity, security, and fun that money offers. All these desires are genuine and sincere emotional states.