What Coachella Attendees Think About Drugs at Music Festivals

Photos and words by Daniel Garcia

It seems like every year, drugs become more of a problem at music festivals. Maybe it’s due to the rise in popularity of electronic music and its relationship with MDMA. Perhaps social media plays a role, as publications and music fans share the overdose horror stories that sometimes take place at major festivals throughout the country. Maybe it's just the culture of our generation. The truth is, music festivals and drug usage have gone hand in hand for decades.

All it takes is one overdose for the existence of drugs to be deemed a problem. But perhaps we should be thankful that drug-related deaths are not more frequent at music festivals. While security may let a waft of marijuana slide, most major music festivals take significant efforts at the festival gates to stop hard drugs from coming in.

I am a sober music fiend, so when I traveled to one of the world's biggest music festivals, Coachella, I hoped to get the perspective of different people with different views on drugs and music. I wanted to see how different people experience their music, whether it’s stone cold sober or high as fuck.

1.Josh

 

I met Josh while I was waiting in the photo pit for Ab-Soul's set, which I unfortunately had to miss because it started late and the Based God was about to perform. Josh is 19 (from Lake Forest) and for shows this weekend, he plans to dabble in weed, alcohol, and maybe some hard drugs. He told me it really depends on the type of show and the hype of the show. I can only imagine where things went an hour later, since the TDE show was very hype.

2.James

 

Before gates opened, James was hanging out by his car, enjoying a drink. He is 21 from Huntington Beach, CA and had a little buzz even before the festival officially kicked off. In his Red Solo Cup was some "jungle juice," which was really just a mix of all the leftover drinks they had.

He drinks, smokes, and "other stuff" (if the opportunity presents itself). James tells me it all enhances things, and makes your feelings stronger. He takes some precautions—like leaving everything at the camp site except some water and his wristband—to make sure his inebriation doesn't get the best of him. James and his friend said you can either remember events (if sober) or you can remember your feelings (when under the influence).

3.Nicki & Siarra

 

San Diego representatives Nicki and Siarra are attempting their first sober Coachella. Nicki is trying to be a better Christian as she has seen a lot of the negatives (from friends) of being too messed up at Coachella. Siarra on the other hand, is just not feeling it this year.

4.Zach

 

Zach was about as positive as Lil B's performance hours before. He is a 16-year-old from Santa Monica. Although I thought he was totally sober, he told me he was "about a 5," and by the end of the night he usually flirts with a solid 9 on the "fucked up" scale.

The advantage, he told me, is having your senses heightened for live music. "You can physically feel the music," he explained. Unfortunately though, things got the best of him once when he passed out at Made In America LA during Weezer's set. He also told me about a time he saw a girl at Outside Lands festival (tripping on something) get tackled by security. As she got up her clothes were ripped off, but she kept on dancing to Paul McCartney.

5.Dameon & Rob

 

Dameon and Rob are both in their mid-20s, and like many at Coachella, they are both from California. Dameon described himself as pretty sober, but Rob had a head start on him because he was buzzed at that point. This is their first Coachella so they didn't quite know how drunk they would get. It all depends on the Coachella beer prices, they told me. Guessing they didn't end up too drunk, then.

6.Kevin

 

Kevin was possibly the friendliest guy I met at Coachella on Friday. He is 28 from Santa Clara, and from a scale from sober to drunk, he was about a 2. By the end of the night, he expected to be a 7 or 8. He always tries to stay in control though, as he never wants to get to the level where his friends have to drag him around. "Moderation and hydration," he told me. Kevin also shared with me how honest some people are in the desert. One of his friends lost a wallet on the camping grounds, and someone returned it, money and all. Positive vibes at Coachella.

7.Logan & Wesley

 

Logan and Wesley are 20-year-old twins from Inland Empire, CA. They were sober when I talked to them, but come a few hours they said they would at least be an 8 on the sober to messed up scale. Drugs, alcohol, whatever will help them have a good time. Beside puking pretty bad one year and seeing their cousin face-plant at Wu-Tang's set, they haven't experienced any severe negatives from mixing substances with festivals.

8.Dan (Me)

 

That's me. I always stay sober at shows, especially when I am in the photo pit. Not only am I in the same boat as Dameon and Rob, where I think beer prices are too high, but I think that I experience a concert better when sober. Also, being drunk definitely doesn't help my photography skills (although once I drunkenly shot a Kid Cudi set and it turned out great.)

After spending a day talking to fans about drinks and drugs at Coachella, I was suprised just how many people get messed up for Coachella (thought I'd find at least a couple people like me). I don't think my way is the "right way," though. It all seems to be about what kind of experience you're looking for, what kind of person you are, and how you react to different substances. There is no right answer.

One thing is clear, though: Drugs are still a big part of festival culture, and that can lead to extreme highs and lows. So be safe out there, and enjoy your Coachella.