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Boston Councilor Wants Inquiry Into Avicii Concert

A city councilor wants a public inquiry into TD Garden's drug abuse measures after dozens of young concertgoers were hospitalized last month during an electronic dance music show featuring Swedish disc jockey Avicii.

According to a council agenda posted Monday, Councilor Stephen Murphy is requesting a council committee discuss measures the arena has in place to "prevent, monitor or treat drug abuse of concert attendees." Murphy is a former council president who currently chairs the council's public safety committee.

Nearly 40 people were taken to the hospital for drug and alcohol-related problems during the June 25 concert, emergency officials said. About 50 more required medical treatment on the scene. Officials said affected concertgoers, most of them in their teens and 20s, had symptoms attributed to the use of "molly," a purer form of the club drug known as ecstasy.

Boston police subsequently cited TD Garden, which is home to the Boston Celtics and Boston Bruins, for allowing intoxicated and underage concertgoers admission. Mayor Martin Walsh also promised to meet with Garden officials to review the incident.

Last summer, a 19-year-old New Hampshire woman died of an apparent molly overdose at an electronic dance music concert at the city's House of Blues, which briefly closed its doors. The venue was cited by police and implemented security plans to deal with drug use following the incident.

The council's next meeting is Wednesday.

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