Most of us agree that illegal drugs such as marijuana, cocaine, or heroine are bad for the body and can cause horrific addictions. But what about i-dosing, the supposed “computer high” that kids are getting from listening to certain types of music on their computers? It probably sounds as ridiculous to you as it does to me, but parents, teachers, and even the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics are up in arms over the new trend.
“I-dosing” involves putting on headphones and listening to binaural, or two-tone technology, that supposedly alters your brain waves and mental state. According to the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics, the sounds induce the same kind of mind-altering effects as marijuana, cocaine, peyote, and opium. Mark Woodward, the spokesman for the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs, recently argued that:
“Kids are going to flock to these sites just to see what it is about and it can lead them to other places. If you want to reach these kids and save these kids and keep these kids safe, parents have to be aware, and they’ve got to take action."
While all the fuss might seem a little much for some of us, Oklahoma’s Mustang High School recently sent home letters to parents warning them of the dangers of i-dosing. But school officials and safety officials aren’t the only ones worried about the new trend. In fact, some students are worried that the music contains “demons”. However, Dr. Helane Wahbeh, a Naturopathic Physician and Clinician Researcher at the Oregon Health and Science University recently told NPR that:
"Binaural beats happen when opposite ears receive two different sound waves. When you listen to these sounds with stereo headphones, the listener senses the difference between the two frequencies as another beat that sounds like it’s coming from the inside of the head."
In other words, i-dosing is pretty harmless and has also been used to treat anxiety, PMS, and to even help cure addictions.
