its a difficult issue; TBH I don’t think kids (age 5-10) at outdoor events are at any more danger than they are in their home cities/towns/villages (and may even be safer!) – drugs and drug culture are everywhere these days and cannot be avoided. they could go playing in the streets and find used needles; and I’ve never heard of predatory behaviour towards kids at a rave.
OTOH there may be more risk to younger pre-teens/teenagers as there is peer pressure to take substances at an earlier age and they are cheaper to get; and also with more “liberal” parents these kids could be inclined to binge more early on in life.
it is often more a risk that they will not do as well in exams/education than any serious risk to physical health; but that does mean they are delayed from progressing in “normal” society (they are not made stupid, its just they have different priorities in life!)
That IMO is not a bad thing as there is too much pressure on teens these days; but other more conservative minded families will have put the pressure on their kids. it becomes difficult when the “junior ravers” are competing with those who didn’t take drugs and even with youths from other EU countries – and can’t get jobs because although capable they don’t have the paper qualifications as they spent more of their summers partying!
this IMO is responsible for a lot of the resentment and hatred in many young people today; they have been thrown on the scrap heap already by age 18 or so … and often their own parents disown them as they never accepted their lifestyles.
I started getting interested in hedonistic lifestyles (drugs/partying) at age 15.
It obviously did not kill me or destroy my mind; but it did mean I have slightly less qualifications than I could have gained; and a minor criminal record.
I’ve still done well in life but at some times it was hard and my family had to support me to get me through bad patches which may not have happened as much had I conformed; many families are not prepared (or simply cannot afford) to bail their youths out like that.
I don’t know if my ethnic background is a factor though (Asian families tend to stick together); but I’ve heard of people becoming almost permanently estranged from their families due to their involvement in the rave scene or from taking drugs.
And I also do think some people who start too early often risk burning out too early..
