The Truth Behind Woodstock

When one thinks of Woodstock, the first image that likely comes to mind is that of Jimi Hendrix and other famous rock stars playing for a massive crowd of hippies. Peace, love and drugs abound in the summer of 1969. But while Woodstock has achieved the status of American legend today, the actual truth of the event shows that it was not all flowers and butterflies. Truth be told, many of Woodstock’s attendees probably needed a stint in drug rehab later on.

A New York Times article shortly after the conclusion of the festival reported that one youth who attended the festival died because of a heroin overdose, while others were sent to local hospitals in critical condition after drug overdoses. Another person died after being run over by a tractor while sleeping in a nearby field—the area was so crowded that many attendees used neighboring farms’ fields as latrines and sleeping areas. Four miscarriages also took place during the festival.

In addition to these tragedies, an estimated 4,000 people received medical treatment at the event because of negative reactions to drugs, injuries (many of which were sustained due to intoxication) and illness caused after a giant downpour engulfed concertgoers. Interestingly enough, there were no reports of violent activities during the festival, a common reason many are admitted to drug rehab.

Many attempt to gloss over these details, focusing instead on the fact that the concert’s attendees were so peaceful. And while the fact that a crowd of over 300,000 didn’t begin to cannibalize each other after torrential rain delayed performances, that doesn’t mean it was a great event.

As Mark Hosenball, a Newsweek journalist who attended the event as a youth reminisced, “For some—maybe quite a few of us—who made the journey, Woodstock was, if not a nightmare, then a massive, teeming squalid mess. If you like colossal traffic jams, torrential rain, reeking portable johns, barely edible food, and sprawling, disorganized crowds, then you would have found Woodstock a treat.”

In addition to the legal, travel and environmental problems caused in the area by the concert, the fact that many youth were introduced to drugs in such copious amounts is a cause for concern. Modern research has found that the younger someone is introduced to marijuana and other drugs, the more likely they will need drug rehab in the future. It is sobering to think of how many Woodstock attendees may have later needed the assistance of drug rehab to overcome a destructive habit started at the concert.

Woodstock’s historical significance cannot be denied. But it is important to realize that there is more to the story than the legend of peace, love and music.

Kevin Johnson is a health writer. Information provided by Miramar Recovery Centers. Kevin writes for Fusion 360, an advertising agency in Utah.

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Created on Dec 31st 1969 18:00. Viewed 0 times.

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