A rave is a large, typically overnight dance party, with techno usually the preferred form of music. New musical forms and fashion trends often crop up at raves, as do a variety of drugs of abuse known as club drugs. Raves have been a part of youth culture since the late 1980s, when all-night parties and Detroit techno music became a phenomenon in the United Kingdom. Raves are held in a variety of places, from more traditional nightclubs to warehouses to open pastures (sometimes without the knowledge of the owners). Ravers, usually in their late teens and early 20s, are looking to escape traditional rules and expectations of society and instead to immerse themselves in a much looser underground atmosphere free of adult control.

A central part of rave culture is hedonism, or pleasure seeking. This pleasure seeking often leads to drug use, particularly methamphetamine (often called meth, crank, crystal, speed, or whizz) and MDMA (ecstasy). Other club drugs popular on the rave scene are Rohypnol, GHB, LSD, and ketamine. The abuse of a combination of drugs is so common on the rave scene that it is difficult to come up with a complete list of drugs. Ravers tend to regard the drugs they use as newer and safer than older drugs like heroin and PCP, also referred to as angel dust. But this is rarely true. In fact, deaths have occurred as a result of drug use at raves. Drug problems are common among ravers, making raves a source of public concern.

See Also

Club Drugs; Designer Drugs; Ecstasy; Ketamine; Phencyclidine (Pcp); Rohypnol.