Who uses digital drugs? An international survey of 'binaural beat' consumers.
Monica J Barratt, Alexia Maddox, Naomi Smith, Jenny L Davis, Lachlan Goold, Adam R Winstock, Jason A Ferris
Drug and alcohol review July 1, 2022 Peer reviewed DOI: 10.1111/dar.13464 via PubMed
Summary
5.3% of respondents in a cross-sectional study reported using binaural beats to achieve altered states, with a median age of 27 and a majority being male (60.5%). The highest usage rates were found in the United States, Mexico, Brazil, Poland, Romania, and the United Kingdom. Common reasons for use included relaxation (72.2%) and mood alteration (34.7%). Notably, 16.5% of classic psychedelic users sought effects similar to those of other drugs.
Study at a glance
| Design | cross-sectional study |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 30,896 |
| Population | respondents from the Global Drug Survey 2021 across 22 countries |
| Key finding | Binaural beats were used by 5.3% of the sample to experience altered states, with significant associations found between their use and factors such as age, gender, and recent drug use. |
Abstract
Digital drugs, or binaural beats claimed to elicit specific cognitive or emotional states, are a phenomenon about which little is known. In this brief report, we describe demographic and drug use correlates of binaural beat use, patterns of use, reasons for use and methods of access. The Global Drug Survey 2021 was translated into 11 languages; 30 896 responses were gathered from 22 countries. The use of binaural beats to experience altered states was reported by 5.3% of the sample (median age 27; 60.5% male), with the highest rates from the United States, Mexico, Brazil, Poland, Romania and the United Kingdom. Controlling for all variables, age and non-male gender predicted binaural beat use, as did the recent use of cannabis, psychedelics and novel/new drugs. Respondents most commonly used binaural beats 'to relax or fall asleep' (72.2%) and 'to change my mood' (34.7%), while 11.7% reported trying 'to get a similar effect to that of other drugs'. This latter motivation was more commonly reported among those who used classic psychedelics (16.5% vs. 7.9%; P < 0.001). The majority sought to connect with themselves (53.1%) or 'something bigger than themselves' (22.5%) through the experience. Binaural beats were accessed primarily through video streaming sites via mobile phones. This paper establishes the existence of the phenomenon of listening to binaural beats to elicit changes in embodied and psychological states. Future research directions include the cultural context for consumption and proximate experiences, including co-use with ingestible drugs and other auditory phenomena.