One year ago, Congress defunded public media. Now that we're 100% community funded, please become a sustaining member or increase your existing membership today.
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
Docs Diagnose Raves as Bad Idea for LA Coliseum After Electric Daisy Carnival
Photo of Electric Daisy in 2009 at the Coliseum by LU5H.bunny via the LAist Featured Photos pool on Flickr
Photo of Electric Daisy in 2009 at the Coliseum by LU5H.bunny via the LAist Featured Photos pool on Flickr
The Electric Daisy Carnival, one of the largest events of its kind, drew almost 200,000 attendees over two days and boasted five stages for performers and a rave atmosphere in the Los Angeles Coliseum and at the adjoining Exposition Park.
But the event had its dark side, including over 100 injuries and illnesses sustained on-site that necessitated transporting victims to nearby hospitals. Several of the hurt were teens, and, at least two patients "were in the intensive care unit for drug intoxication at California Hospital Medical Center," according to the LA Times.
Now doctors from various facilities are expressing dismay that an event like Electric Daisy would be held on public land. Dr. Philip Fagan Jr., an ER doc at Good Samaritan said that raves "should never be held any longer at the Coliseum."
Other medical professionals agree:
Dr. Marc Futernick, medical director of emergency services at California Hospital Medical Center, called it "unconscionable" for a publicly owned facility like the Coliseum to host raves. "I don't know why our elected … leaders would allow these activities to take place," Futernick said.
"This is basically a government-encouraged … drug fest. That's the wrong message," said Dr. Brian Johnston, emergency room medical director at White Memorial Medical Center. "It's putting people at risk, unnecessarily. It's putting people's health at risk."
One year ago, Congress voted to defund public media, eliminating a critical $1.7 million from our budget every year going forward. But they couldn’t silence us, and we’re not going anywhere. LAist is now 100% community funded and that means we’re taking our future into our own hands and turning to you to keep local reporting strong.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
