Substance Use Trends in Rave Culture: A Natural Language Processing and Thematic Analysis of Reddit Discussions Público

Abstract

Abstract

 

Background:

Substance use within nightlife environments such as raves, music festivals, and EDM events presents a growing public health concern. These settings often normalize the use of psychoactive substances, particularly MDMA, LSD, and ketamine, integrating drug use into the cultural experience. For many, especially LGBTQ+ individuals and racial minority youth, rave spaces serve as sites of community and liberation. However, associated risks include emotional distress, physical harm, and long-term neurological effects. Traditional surveillance systems often overlook these contexts, calling for alternative, community-informed approaches to substance use monitoring and harm reduction.

 

Methods:

This study used a mixed-methods approach to analyze narratives from the r/aves subreddit, a digital community with over 498,000 members. The quantitative analysis applied natural language processing (NLP) techniques, including tokenization, frequency distribution, and TF-IDF, to identify common substances and temporal trends. A domain-specific dictionary was developed to capture slang and abbreviations. Posts were selected using keyword filtering and manual review. The qualitative component involved thematic analysis of fifty posts explicitly referencing MDMA use and post-rave experiences, focusing on emotional tone, physical symptoms, harm reduction strategies, and psychological reflections.

 

Results:

MDMA was the most frequently mentioned substance, with post-volume peaking from May to August, likely aligning with festival season and academic breaks. LSD, ketamine, and cocaine also appeared but less frequently. High co-occurrence of harm reduction terms such as “hydration,” “test kit,” and “5-HTP” reflected community awareness. Qualitative findings revealed consistent descriptions of sadness, anxiety, mental fog, and social withdrawal following MDMA use, commonly referred to as “Tuesday Blues.” Coping strategies included nutrition, sleep, exercise, and peer advice, but few posts mentioned formal mental health services. Some users described adverse reactions and concerns about substance adulteration, emphasizing the need for accessible drug-checking and broader education.

 

Conclusion:

Reddit provides real-time insight into the lived experiences of substance use in rave culture. These findings highlight the importance of culturally grounded, peer-informed public health strategies. Incorporating these perspectives into outreach and education may improve harm reduction efforts and support for underserved populations often excluded from traditional prevention systems.

Table of Contents

Contents

Acknowledgments. ...........................................................................................0

Chapter 1: Introduction.................................................................................... 1

Chapter 2: Literature Review..............................................................................7

Epidemiology of substance use...........................................................................7

Social Norms Theory and Substance Use Behavior...............................................8

Harm Reduction in Nightlife and Festival Environments......................................9

Drug Misrepresentation and MDMA Trends.......................................................10

Previous Intervention Measures and the Emergence of Digital Data Sources. .......11

Digital Ethnography and Reddit as a Research Tool............................................13

Ethical Considerations in Social Media Research................................................14

Research Question, Objectives, and Justification................................................14

Chapter 3: Method...........................................................................................16

Quantitative Analysis.......................................................................................16

Natural Language Processing: Frequency Distribution........................................16

Qualitative Analysis.........................................................................................18

Thematic Analysis............................................................................................18

Chapter 4: Result .............................................................................................21

Quantitative Analysis.......................................................................................21

Qualitative Analysis.........................................................................................23

Theme 1: Post-Rave Depression and Tuesday Blues............................................23

Theme 2: Post-Rave Symptoms and Psychological Impact ..................................24

Theme 3: Injury Prevention and Harm Reduction Strategies................................25

Further Analysis focusing on Tuesday Blues.......................................................26

Chapter 5: Discussion and Conclusion...............................................................30

Discussion.......................................................................................................30

Expanding on Key Findings for Public Health Relevance......................................32

Public Health Implications................................................................................33

Limitations......................................................................................................34

Future directions..............................................................................................34

Conclusion.......................................................................................................35

References........................................................................................................38

Appendix A.......................................................................................................42

Appendix B.......................................................................................................44

About this Master's Thesis

Rights statement

• Permission granted by the author to include this thesis or dissertation in this repository. All rights reserved by the author. Please contact the author for information regarding the reproduction and use of this thesis or dissertation.

School	Rollins School of Public Health
Department	Behavioral Sciences and Health Education
Degree	M.P.H.
Submission	Master's Thesis
Language	English
Research Field	Health Sciences, Mental Health
Palabra Clave	Thematic Analysis People who use drugs Data Science Recreational drug use Natural Language Processing Substance use Harm Reduction Nonmedical drug use Risk environment framework Qualitative Analysis Mixed Method
Committee Chair / Thesis Advisor	Don Operario, Emory University Abeed Sarker, Emory University

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