The Influence of Technology in Spreading of Drugs: A Case Study of the Using of

Digital Drugs in USA

Submitted to:
Iwan Satriawan, S.H., MCL., Ph.D
Submitted by:
Ariski Puji Purwanto
(20160610468)

IPOLS
FACULTY OF LAW
UNIVERSITY OF MUHAMMADIYAH YOGYAKARTA
2019
 Table of Content

Chapter I Introduction............................................................................................................3

Background....................................................................................................................3

Problem Statement.........................................................................................................6

Objective of Research....................................................................................................6

Benefit of Research........................................................................................................6

Chapter II Literature Review..................................................................................................7

Chapter III Research Methodology......................................................................................12

Bibliography............................................................................................................................14

2
 Chapter I

Introduction

Background

A teenager, who only wants to be identified as Zach, is in treatment for dependency

on actual drugs and admits to doing digital drugs. "It's weird. You listen to something, you
get high. You fall into a trance, and when the music stops playing, you wake up and you're
high off of whatever drug you took," he said. This is supposedly based on binaural beats,
where a tone of one frequency is played into the right ear and a slightly different frequency is
played into the left. The difference purportedly affects brainwaves and mimics the use of
recreational drugs. It’s no secret that music can affect one's mood, and binaural beats do
exist, but doctors said there's no scientific basis that binaural beats can get you high. "Saying
it will induce specific recreational drug experiences, it’s really a hoax in my opinion," Dr.
Daniyal Ibrahim, chief of toxicology at St. Francis Hospital, said. "There is no logical basis to
suggest that somehow listening to sound that will simulate a neurochemical change that a
drug is predictably doing to kids."1

It's a new trend most adults have not heard of, but it is appearing in some parts of the
country: teenagers trying to get a high using nothing more than sounds. To get these so-called
'digital drugs,' you don't need a street dealer. You don't even need a prescription. All you
need to gain access to digital drugs is a computer, a credit card and a pair of headphones.
These sound files are sold by a company known as I-Doser. Starting with just a couple of
dollars, anyone can download these sounds, which I-Doser says will alter people's moods,
making them feel uplifted, even more confident. But other sounds promise to make listeners
feel like they're on drugs, from cocaine to crystal meth and speed, and everything in
between.2

These digital sounds are nothing more than binaural beats, which have been around
for a long time. Binaural beats are created when two different sounds are played at slightly
different frequencies in each ear. The differing frequencies create a pulse sensation, or beats,
which some people believe give them the illusion they're on drugs. Binaural beats were

1
Can Digital Drugs Get You High?, https://www.vice.com/en_ca/article/gqw35q/i-tried-to-get-high-using-
digital-drugs, accessed on 1-6-2018 08.22
2
FDA approves pill with sensor that digitally tracks if patients have ingested their medication,
https://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/ucm584933.htm, accessed on 26-4-2018
21.13

3
created in the 1830's, and have been used in the military and by doctors to help patients with
hearing problems.3

Neuropsychiatrist Dr. Sreela Pulakhandam, with the Institute of Neuropsychiatry in

Lake Charles, says not many studies have been done over the long-term effects of casual use
of binaural beats. However, constant exposure to binaural beats does give Dr. Pulakhandam
some concerns. Even though this is safe, it has been noted that it could be a precursor to
actually start using the real drugs, noting that binaural beats should generally not be used by
children. Because not many studies have been done over casual use of binaural beats, KPLC
put two of our own to the test.4

Trevor and Charles are two behind the scenes guys who volunteered for our
experiment. Trevor remained relaxed and calm throughout the entire process, but the reaction
from Charles was much different. All of a sudden I just felt sick. I just felt really sick and I
knew I couldn't keep it up. Many teens have posted videos of themselves listening to binaural
beats to YouTube. The reactions range from visible boredom to over excitement.5

Dr. Pulakhandam said the best way to prevent any behavioral changes in teenagers is
for parents to monitor their children closely. Just being careful and monitoring and
understanding what the children are on is the best thing. I-Doser does list several disclaimers
on its website. The company said its products should be used for entertainment purposes
only.6

Drugs have become a growing global problem, fast and frightening, and most of the
countries of the world have not noticed it until the beginning of the 21 Century, due to its
increased abuse by various social groups, especially the young people of all levels
attributable to political, social, economic, psychological and cultural reasons. 7 The
development of technology and the expansion of its means through the phenomenon of
globalization in industrial societies, which are intertwined with economic and trade interests,
exceeded the national borders in terms of organization and planning, which is called in the
event of all the pillars of the crime of drugs (material, moral, legal and international) a crime
cross-border.8
3
Digital Drugs: The new way teens are getting high , http://www.wmcactionnews5.com/story/12608664/digital-
drugs-the-new-way-teens-are-getting-high, accessed on 26-4-2018 21.14.
4
Ibid.
5
ibid
6
Ibid.
7
David J. Triggle. Drug Discovery and Delivery in the 21st Century. Med Princ Pract 2007;16:1-14.
8
Ibid.

4
 The rules of international law are no longer aimed solely at organizing political matters,
but have expanded to encompass social, economic and environmental matters. International
law has many branches, including social international law, economic international law and
others. To address this problem, the researchers should define the phenomenon of drugs. But
the development of technology and the expansion of its means through the phenomenon of
globalization in industrial societies, which are intertwined with the economic and trade
interests, which exceeded the national borders in terms of organization and planning, which
was called in the event that all its pillars (material, moral, sharia and international) are
available in cross-border crime, organized criminal groups, exploited this technological
development to expand their criminal activities to drugs by developing cooperation with their
counterparts in the continents of the world.9

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on 2017 approved the first drug in the U.S.
with a digital ingestion tracking system. Abilify MyCite (aripiprazole tablets with sensor) has
an ingestible sensor embedded in the pill that records that the medication was taken. The
product is approved for the treatment of schizophrenia, acute treatment of manic and mixed
episodes associated with bipolar I disorder and for use as an add-on treatment for depression
in adults.10

Being able to track ingestion of medications prescribed for mental illness may be
useful for some patients. The FDA supports the development and use of new technology in
prescription drugs and is committed to working with companies to understand how
technology might benefit patients and prescribers.11

International documents on drugs did not agree on a clear and specific definition of
drugs. This is due to the many types and varieties of narcotic drugs, for example (cannabis,
opium, cocaine, morphine, crystal, etc.).12 As it is scientifically proven, the substance of the
drug, whatever its kind, has a great effect on humans as well as animals, as it leads to loss of
consciousness to varying degrees and thus ends in death. Although there are some medical
benefits of drugs such as painkillers, their abuse or increase causes harm to human health;
hence, this is why international documents have called for, if not all, the protection of the use
9
United States Institutes of Peace. Teaching Guide on International Terrorism: Definitions, Causes, and
Responses. Washington: USIP (Online), 2001.
10
Digital drug sends a message from patient’s gut, https://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/wall-street-
journal/digital-drug-sends-a-message-from-patients-gut/news-story/02db8dc8584a4c0124c1699b7de2c6d9,
accessed on 26 April 2018 at 21.12.
11
ibid
12
Deborah Ahrens. Drug Panics in The Twenty-First Century: Ectasy, Prescription Drugs, and The Refraining
of The War on Drugs, 6 ALB. GOV’T L. REV.397 (2013).

5
of drugs, and that the violation of such protection is a punishable offense at the international
and domestic levels, with varying sanctions13. The paper will study influence of technology in
spreading binaural beats/digital drug in USA.
The problem statements are as follows:
1- What is the influence of technology in spreading Digital Drugs?
2- How is the practice of using digital drugs in USA?
Objectives of Research
1. To Understand the meaning/definition of digital drugs and the influence of technology
in spreading the digital drugs.
2. To Analyze the influence of technology in spreading binaural beats/digital drug in
USA
3. To Formulate some preventive actions to respond on the using of technology in
spreading digital drugs.

Benefit of Research
A. Theoritical Benefit
1. This research open wide discussion on binaural beats/digital drug issue.
2. This research enrich knowlede on the issue of binaural beats.

B. Practical Benefit
1. This research help the government to make preventive actions to respond on the using
of technology in spreading digital drugs.

Chapter II

Literature Review

13
Al-Majali, Fayez, “Digital Drugs and the Challenges of Globalization,” Journal of Al-Manara Amman, Jordan,
vol 13, no. 7, (2013): 78.

6
 Professor Ahmed Abdul Rahman (2010), said the definition of digital drugs are “audio

files containing monophonic or dual tones heard by the user and makes the brain up to a state

of numbness similar to the impact of real drugs or at least this is claimed by some, and

designed these audio or digital files to simulate hallucinations and conjunctivitis associated

with substance abuse by unconsciously influencing the mind”. 14 But, unfortunately he did not

clear in explain on which is kind of audio files that inclued as binaural beats/digital drgus.

Susan A. Reedijk (2013), said The binaural beat percept was first reported by H. W.

Dove in 1839 and outlined in detail by Oster over five decades ago. Oster reported that the

binaural beats were detected only when the carrier frequency was below 1000 Hz, a finding

that confirmed an earlier study by Licklider and colleagues. This indicates that beat carrier

frequencies have to be sufficiently low enough to be temporally encoded by the cortex. This

effect, which is caused by non-auditory sound waves of the ear called white noise, is covered

with some minor rhythms to cover the disturbance of those waves. Often sound waves

provide earphones with sound-like sounds with a sound strength of less than 1,000 to 1500

hertz. Based on their name, the sound waves are heard as a fixed intensity and frequency on

the ear and a slightly different frequency on the other ear.15

Nantawachara Jirakittayakorn (2017), said A binaural beat is a beat phenomenon that

is generated by the dichotic presentation of two almost equivalent pure tones but with slightly

different frequencies. I-dosing, scientifically known as “binaural beat”, is an auditory illusion

perceived when two different pure-tone sine waves, both with frequencies less than 1500 Hz

having an inter-wave difference less than a 40 Hz, are presented to a listener dichotically

through each ear. When a listener uses a headphone, he can notice the minimal difference in

14
Mohamed Morsi, Digital Drug Addiction via the Internet and its Impact on Arab Youth, (Naif University for
Security Sciences, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, 2016), 35.
15
Susan A. Reedijk, Anne Bolders, and Bernhard Hommel, The impact of binaural beats on creativity, Journal
of Frontiers in Human Neuroscience Vol 7, 2013: 786.

7
frequencies of perceived tone and subsequently tones the brain waves to this frequency

producing the desired effect.16

Helena Wahbeh (2007), said The binaural beat perceived is the difference between the

two externally presented frequencies, she says. For example, if the right ear receives 400

hertz and the left ear receives 410 hertz simultaneously, a beat of 10 hertz is perceived by the

listener. The theory behind entrapment of brain waves is that the person is then supposed to

have an increase in brain activity by those 10 hertz.17

A scientific article by Tony Corford and Valentina Lichtner, entitled “Digital Drugs:

an anatomy of new medicines,” states that the idea of a “digital drug” goes beyond teens

searching for a high and “these initiatives seem to offer new possibilities for therapeutic

improvement and innovation through digitally mediated ways of using drugs.”18

The Previous researchs are well in explained on digital drugs generally but not yet

explain the effect on teenager, the uniqeness of my research is more specific on teenager and

the preventive actions to respond on the using of technology in spreading digital drugs.

Digital Drugs on Teens

Normally, the teenager brain deals with rhythmic beats as electrical impulses or brain

waves. The digital drug theory is to control these brain waves by synchronizing them with

designated binaural beats, which is the same theory applied to the action of many medications

known as biofeedback.

16
Nantawachara Jirakittayakorn and Yodchanan Wongsawat, Brain Responses to a 6-Hz Binaural Beat: Effects
on General Theta Rhythm and Frontal Midline Theta Activity, Journal of Journal of Frontiers in Human
Neuroscience Vol. 11, 2017: 365.
17
Helena Wahbeh, Binaural Beat Technology in Humans: A Pilot Study To Assess Psychologic and
Physiologic Effects, The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine 13(1):25-3.
18
Cornford, Tony and Lichtner, Valentina (2014) Digital Drugs: an anatomy of new medicines. In: Doolin,
Bill, Lamprou, Eleni, Mitev, Nathalie N. and McLeod, Laurie, (eds.) Information Systems and Global
Assemblages: (Re)configuring Actors, Artefacts, Organizations. IFIP Advances in Information
and Communication Technology, (Vol. 4). Springer, pp. 149-162

8
 I-Doser, a term which refers to an online internet application for purchasing audio

contents, claimed to simulate specific mental states through the use of binaural beats, and

some of them are named after prohibited recreational drugs

Users can download the doses to their computer or straight to their iPod or iPhone.

When buying, the audio file doses are divided into several categories, like recreational

(Absinthe, acid, GHB, Heroine), hallucinogenic (LSD, ketamine) and prescription (Oxy and

Demerol). The site even sells steroid doses, like JuiceIT!, described as designed for the sports

of workout user.

Binaural-beat is perceived in the inferior colliculus of the midbrain and the superior

olivary complex of the brainstem, where auditory signals from each ear are integrated and

precipitate electrical impulses along neural pathways through the reticular formation up the

midbrain to the thalamus, auditory cortex, and other cortical regions

Brainwaves vary in response to environmental stimuli including sound and music. The

level and form of response, to some extent, is dependable on individual perception, which

leads to changes in the cognitive and emotional state, known as “brainwave entrainment”

Auditory driving denotes the suggested ability of a repetitive rhythmic auditory stimuli

to ‘drive’ neural electric activity to entrain what is mainly seen in the upper theta, lower alpha

band in electroencephalogram (EEG). Humans rarely hear frequencies below 20 Hz, which is

exactly the range of Delta, Theta, Alpha, and low to mid Beta brainwaves.

Digital drugs are prone to lead to psychological addiction which is rather harder to

treat in comparison to physical addiction.

9
 Rhythmic patterns developed by percussion, especially drumming, temper autonomic

arousal by neural oscillations entertainment. They affect arousal ergo-tropically and tropho-

tropically. These auditory excitations were proved to modulate immune function, help

relaxation, improve mood, and help to decrease stress.

Image from bebrainfit.com

Like any drug, it can be abused. In this sense teens can also abuse these digital drugs,

but because they are said to not alter the brain in any way the question is whether they still

can be abused like actual drugs. These digital drugs seem to have great possibilities for the

future of medicine in a new and unique way than anything that we have seen before. The only

fear that seems to come with digital drugs is the recreational use by teens in order to feel

high. The use and ease of availability by teenagers causes these digital drugs to possibly be a

gateway drug to actual drug use. Because digital drugs do not come with the effects of the

actual drug, this can lead teens to believe that such drugs will not cause harm and that they

are fine therefore increasing the possibility of drug use. Despite these negative possibilities,

digital drugs are seemingly harmless and may have great future possibilities in medicine.

Digital drugs can be abused and lead to possible negative effects, but binaural beats,

when used correctly, can lead to healing. These sounds cause the brain to produce “low-

frequency pulsations in the amplitude and sound localization of a perceived sound when two

10
tones at slightly different frequencies are presented separately.” Basically, the specific

blending of sounds and tones causes the brain to produce a series of pulsations resulting in an

impact on one’s mood. Various binaural beats are created to heal, clear focus, meditate and

relax. There are many variations of binaural beats used for healing.

Just like any method of healing and medicine, there is room for negative effects and

abuse. These sounds can be abused as “digital drugs,” but they also have significant positive

uses and effects. If used correctly, binaural beats open a new area of healing in the medical

field and can have a very positive impact on the future of medicine. These sounds have

minimal negative impacts, are not costly, and can help to heal in new ways. For the future, it

is important to limit the availability and possibility of abusing the sounds. It is important to

research more on the effects of binaural beats and digital drugs as well as test to determine

how well they really work. More research must be conducted to also discover the future

possibilities of auditory healing.

There's an old saying, usually attributed to Confucius, that goes something like "Give

a man a fish, and you'll feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish, and you've fed him for a

lifetime." The government need to have research program on the dosage of digital drugs for

teens to enter healing stage not addiction stage, teach and spread the knowledge on this issue

to prevent the influence of technology in spreading the digital drugs.

11
 Chapter III
Research Methodology
Types of Research
This research is ajuridical-normative research19 which use statute approach20 and
technology approach in analyze the issue of Digital Drugs or Binaural Beats. In this study, the
authors use the method of exploration method that aims to recognize or get a new view of a
phenomenon which is often able to formulate the research problem more precisely or to
formulate the research hypothesis.21
In this case, the research is done by surveying the existed data, literature and the case
of Digital Drugs or Binaural Beats by looking its efficiency and comparing to another related
constituencies in overseas. Doctrinal method is also used in this research which focusing on
reading and analyzing primary materials (such as the legislation) and secondary materials
(such as legal dictionaries, textbooks, journal articles, case digest and legal encyclopedias).22

Types of Data
The main data which is used in this research is secondary data. The Secondary Data
commits of:
 Primary Legal Material

The sources are related to the objective of research such as Acts, Court Decisions and
Regulations.
 Secondary Legal Material

The sources are from any additional data which support the primary source such as Bills,
research reports, textbooks, journal, newspaper, trusted internet sites, and other non-legal
documents related to this research.
 Tertiary Legal Material

The material sources are provide further explanation of the primary and secondary legal
sources and doesn’t add the matter directly empirically which is from dictionary,

19
Soerjono Soekanto & Sri Mamudji, PenelitianHukum Normatif, Suatu Tinjauan Singkat, (Jakarta, Indonesia:
PT. Raja Grafindo Persada, 2007), 12.
20
Gusti Ngurah Wairocana, Pedoman Pendidikan Fakultas Hukum Universitas Udayana (Bali, Indonesia:
Fakultas Hukum Universitas Udayana, 2013), 75.
21
Sukandarrumidi, Metodologi Penelitian (Yogyakarta, Indonesia: Gadjah mada University Press, 2002), 61.
22
Mike McConville & Wing Hong Chui, Research Methods for Law (Edinburgh, United Kingdom: Edinburgh
University Press, (2012), 47.

12
 encyclopedia, etc.

Technique of Collecting Data

The data were collected by library research such reading, analyzing, and deriving
conclusion from related documents (charters, declarations, law books, legal journals, internets
and other which related to the main problem of this research).

Data Analysis
The data were analyzed systematically through juridical point of view. Systematically
means the research analyzes national laws and other norms which related to the issue of
Digital Drugs or Binaural Beats. Juridical point of view means connecting the law principles,
regulations, norms and another related to the main problem of this research.

13
 Bibliography

Books & E-Books

Mohamed Morsi, Digital Drug Addiction via the Internet and its Impact on Arab Youth, (Naif
University for Security Sciences, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, 2016), 35.
Soerjono Soekanto & Sri Mamudji, PenelitianHukum Normatif, Suatu Tinjauan Singkat, (Jakarta, Indonesia: PT.
Raja Grafindo Persada, 2007), 12.
Sukandarrumidi, Metodologi Penelitian (Yogyakarta, Indonesia: Gadjah mada University Press, 2002), 61.

Journals
Al-Majali, Fayez, “Digital Drugs and the Challenges of Globalization,” Journal of Al-Manara
Amman, Jordan, vol 13, no. 7, (2013): 78.
Helena Wahbeh, Binaural Beat Technology in Humans: A Pilot Study To Assess Psychologic and
Physiologic Effects, The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine 13(1):25-3.
Nantawachara Jirakittayakorn and Yodchanan Wongsawat, Brain Responses to a 6-Hz Binaural Beat:
Effects on General Theta Rhythm and Frontal Midline Theta Activity, Journal of Journal of
Frontiers in Human Neuroscience Vol. 11, 2017: 365.
Susan A. Reedijk, Anne Bolders, and Bernhard Hommel, The impact of binaural beats on creativity,
Journal of Frontiers in Human Neuroscience Vol 7, 2013: 786.
Articles
Can Digital Drugs Get You High?, https://www.vice.com/en_ca/article/gqw35q/i-tried-to-get-high-

using-digital-drugs, accessed on 1-6-2018 at 08.22

Digital drug sends a message from patient’s gut, https://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/wall-

street-journal/digital-drug-sends-a-message-from-patients-gut/news-

story/02db8dc8584a4c0124c1699b7de2c6d9, accessed on 26 April 2018 at 21.12.

Digital Drugs: The new way teens are getting high,

http://www.wmcactionnews5.com/story/12608664/digital-drugs-the-new-way-teens-are-getting-

high, accessed on 26-4-2018 21.14.

FDA approves pill with sensor that digitally tracks if patients have ingested their medication,

https://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/ucm584933.htm, accessed on

26-4-2018 21.13

14