The use of ‘digital drugs’ or ‘binaural beats’ sold through Internet websites to youngsters are not themselves dangerous as there is no scientific evidence to prove their impact on the brain or cause addiction, but these digital drugs could tempt people to use real drugs, a senior Sharjah Police official has warned.
Dr Qassem Amer, a senior official at Sharjah Police Research Centre, said while the use of addictive sound tracks can induce symptoms similar to drug addiction, the real danger is that youngsters who visit these Internet sites will be tempted to use real drugs. That is why parents should be aware of the danger posed by hypnotic sound tracks.
Speaking at the ongoing Sharjah International Book Fair, Dr Qassem said there is no scientific evidence on negative effects of ‘digital drugs’ or hypnotising sound tracks available for download at a price from some Internet sites.
Experts have been seeking their ban in the UAE, apparently due to their addictive qualities.
Young college students in the UAE can download and use the digital drugs. These sound tracks can change the user’s state of mind, help fall sleep easier, or feel more relaxed.
There are special mobile phone applications that help users identify special sound tracks aiding relaxation and sleep.
Dr Qassem said some addictive audio tracks are available for download at prices ranging from $2 to $30 and there are some specialised websites that charge as high as $100 to download a customised sound track based on the customer’s requirements.
He added that even though videos on the Internet show young people going through moments of ecstasy and showing acceleration in their breath and heart beats, this is unlikely to be true.
According to Dr Qassem, to feel any effect similar to drug addiction, the user must be already consuming drugs. Some addictive sound tracks are used to reach altered states of consciousness, for meditation or alertness or to aid sleep, but many producers claim the technology can mimic the effect of drugs on the brain. Websites of such manufacturers are, however, banned by Etisalat.
He added that binaural beats have been used to treat certain mental illnesses like mild depression and anxiety disorders. He added that the UAE Ministry of Health does not treat digital drugs as real drugs.
“The real danger of digital drugs is that young people would be tempted to use real drugs. There are many YouTube videos showing youngsters having convulsions while listening to such music tracks. Some sound tracks available on the Internet are named cocaine and other drugs,” he said.
Digital drugs or binaural beats or tones (when sounds of slightly different frequencies are played through each ear, the brain perceives a third ‘phantom’ beat) was discovered in 1839 by the German physicist Heinrich Wilhelm Dove, but did not gain widespread public attention until the 1970s, according to experts.
“The assumption is that the brain responds to two frequencies entering from the left and right ears in a way that stimulates it and in doing so creates the illusion of an altered state of mind that is similar to the state of mind that follows drug consumption,” Dr Qassem said.
Quoting international research reports, he said that the marketing strategy followed by digital drug selling websites includes informing young customers that they must follow special instructions including drinking water before listening to the beats to give the illusion of authenticity.
Digital drugs are specifically developed sound files than can induce feelings of calmness, focus or arousal in the listener.
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