Artists begin drinking or using drugs to fit in and be sociable with colleagues. For famous people, substance use may be a way to cope with performance anxiety or the demands of life as a celebrity. Many singers have referenced drugs in their songs. Comic artist Robert Crumb said he regained technical mastery over his art after four years of LSD use. Does this mean that drugs and alcohol spur creativity? In his book The Compass of Pleasure , neuroscientist David Linden explains that although there is no direct link between creativity and addiction, there is a link between addiction and factors that promote creativity.
Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that signals pleasure and reward. He believes addicts experience weak pleasure, which leads them to seek more pleasure through artificial means such as psychoactive drugs.
It is well known that a predisposition to addiction is genetically determined. Individuals who are risk-taking, compulsive, impulsive, and novelty-seeking are more likely to experiment with drugs. Interestingly, these are the very attributes that spur creativity. Creative people look at the world differently.
However, this can also mean they look at rules and acceptable behaviors differently. There is also a view that psychiatric illnesses among artists and writers are common and that these individuals abuse substances to mask the symptoms of conditions such as bipolar disorder. The perceived increase in substance abuse by famous people has paralleled trends in the general public.
In the United States, the rate of drug overdose deaths from prescription drugs has tripled since the year However, regrettably, the creative community has historically relied on substance abuse to bring out a creative side. What are the reasons for famous artists turning to drugs? This need makes them easy victims for addictive behaviors. In addition, the pressure of performing in front of a large audience is immense.
Artists abuse illicit substances to reduce stress and boost confidence. Drugs help them escape reality and immerse themselves in an artificial world where they feel unencumbered to exhibit their talent. A number of lifestyle factors have led to spiraling addiction in rock stars and other creative individuals. These artists typically perform at night and are often surrounded by people who are drunk or high. Their enormous wealth makes the drug habit sustainable. Drug dealers target the rich and famous in order to enter their inner circle.
An overall culture of permissiveness does not promote abstinence. Performing artists who succumb to drugs are often young, immature, and likely to make stupid decisions. Unlike dancers and athletes, musicians do not need to be in peak health to perform. There is peer pressure to appear fearless and cool.
Finally, life on the road can be incredibly lonely with many hangers-on but no real solid personal connections.
Creative individuals are known to become addicted to a number of commonly abused substances including alcohol , prescription drugs , and illicit drugs such as cocaine , heroin , opium , ecstasy , LSD, and magic mushrooms. These drugs can have a number of side effects including:. Creative individuals sometimes begin mixing various types of drugs and alcohol because they develop a tolerance to one substance.
Interactions between different drugs can prove deadly. In fact, many celebrity overdose deaths are unintentional. For more mainstream musicians, fame brings its own set of difficulties, the pressure to keep up an appearance, the feeling of being watched by fans the world over, and the need to avoid the potential wrath of cancel culture.
What can change is the level of support provided to artists if they are struggling — whether that be with their mental health, substance abuse or a mixture of the two. Labels ought to have a duty of care to the artists that they represent, to see them as people rather than money-making machines, and to point them in the right direction of professional help or even just healthier coping mechanisms.
Without this, without awareness, the issue will stay normalised, and we will inevitably lose more and more musicians to substance abuse. Your email address will not be published. By Emma Wilkes. Posted in Music. Unfortunately, the nature of this industry that pushes musicians to such extremes is unlikely to change It is also important to remember that drug use and mental health issues are inherently intertwined in the music industry, especially when you consider how high the rates of mental illness are among musicians.
If you or anyone you know is suffering from substance abuse, mental health charity Mind has a helpful and extensive list of resources. Every jazz musician wanted to be like him because of his incredible music talent.
Unfortunately, Charlie Parker had an addiction to heroin and morphine. Guess what? A lot of the younger musicians who worked with him also ended up using drugs.
Instead, people who realize that they are easily influenced should be proactive in finding positive influences. There are incredible musicians who will inspire you to reach new artistic highest and counsel you on dealing with the setbacks which are inevitable. The most important aspect of your creative life is consistency. Try thinking of one musician who has remained at the pinnacle of creativity for 4 or 5 decades while consistently using heavy drugs.
In reality, you will end up isolating yourself. No one wants to be around a drug user because of the unpredictable nature of drug users. You will be considered a liability. All of the people in your network may slowly disappear the deeper you go into substance abuse. This will only complicate your career as a musician and may possibly lead to depression. If you cannot tell, I am passionate about helping other musicians fulfill their creative dreams.
Also, I had several cousins die from drug overdose and know first-hand the pain it causes families. However, all of the material on this blog is of little use if you allow yourself to become a slave to drugs. I suspect we would have had some more amazing music from these incredible musicians.
Unfortunately, their lives were cut short due to drugs. So maybe the questions still begs, why do musicians use drugs? Short answer is lack of fulfillment. There is a whole that needs to be filled, somewhere.
If you are struggling with drug addiction or any other addiction , check out this list of Addiction-Recovery Recommended Links.
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