Drugs as part of the psychedelic trance dance party

The psychedelic trance subculture maintains its own internal distinction between tolerated and non-tolerated drugs, which differs from mainstream legal and social classifications. Through interviews with experts, long-term participants, and newcomers, the subculture was found to have unwritten rules governing the behavior of intoxicated individuals. However, the subculture has only limited ability to enforce these standards, and members recognize this as a threat to the scene. Psychedelic trance is distinct from other dance scenes because hallucinogens dominate and inform its culture.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Abstract The aim of our paper is to analyze the position the psychedelic trance subculture takes on drug use and whether it applies to prescriptive regulatory systems on drug-taking. A qualitative field research strategy was adopted with the use of semi-structured interviews and participant observations. Actors at three levels of participation in the subculture (experts, long-term participants and newcomers to psychedelic trance parties) were interviewed. The results showed that the subculture distinguishes between tolerated and non-tolerated drugs. This distinction is different from the mainstream paradigm. The subculture also has unwritten rules relating to the behavior expected of an intoxicatedperson. However, there is only limited potential for the subculture to enforce these standards and recognition that this represents a threat. Psychedelic trance stands out from other dance scenes in the use of specific drugs—hallucinogens—that dominate and inform its culture.