Getting high and making music often go hand in hand. From the Beatles to Amy Winehouse, many of the dynamic music duos of this age are characterized by one common denominator: a star musician utilizing the power of drug addiction. It’s become a disturbing pattern in the creative world, where addiction is seen as a necessary evil to produce great music. Unfortunately, many individuals with creative potential – seemingly particularly those in the music world – have taken the path of self-destruction, where drugs, alcohol, and other substances have extinguished individual brilliance and destroyed lives. But why is it that the musician and the addict so often seem to be one and the same?
The bleak reality is that addiction is often a symptom of a person who is searching for something to make them feel more connected to their work and life, as many musicians, especially those dealing with fame, often have difficulty connecting with and understanding the world around them. Creative people, as well as those who deal with mental health issues, are particularly vulnerable to substance use, and it’s likely that many of these musicians turn to substances in order to feel temporarily connected to something they can’t quite reach in normal life or during the creative process.
The two states of being – creative and/or addicted – exist so closely within the human experience that it is easy to understand why so many musicians make the mistake of believing that substances are necessary for creativity. Although there is a certain correlation between intoxication and artistic output, it is important to note that this is entirely short-term, and should never be taken as an excuse to abuse substances.
Though it is partly because of glamorizing drug use in our own culture, it’s also a product of a society that has failed to help the people it claims to care for. Tremendous amounts of stigma and ignorance has resulted in the desperate paranoia that these musicians feel, and the subsequent decisions they make in order to survive. Musicians, especially those of more sensitive/difficult personalities, may have difficulty communicating feelings of self-doubt or loneliness that can be expressed much easier through artistic expression, and more powerfully through a kind of “high” created from substances. Unfortunately, such coping mechanisms are often used in a misguided manner, and can often result in losing touch with reality.
It is no secret that music industry is one of the most toxic industries, but there is also a huge emphasis placed on one’s appearance. When combined with alcohol and drugs, this unhealthy state can be a breeding ground for addiction. With the huge spotlight on musicians and their accomplishments, the pressure to keep performing is intense and can leave individuals vulnerable to substance use.
Musicians are people, first and foremost. Behind every loud riff and belted chorus is a fragile and vulnerable human being. We as a society need to do more to ensure that these individuals are not taken advantage of by the industry they work in and provided the education and support they need to feel safe and secure as they struggle to make a name for themselves.
In the end, no matter the recipe or cause, the fact remains that the musician and the addict are today often one and the same. With the right guidance, knowledge, and education, we can hopefully one day break the trend and have more artists reach their full potential without taking the detrimental path of addiction that so many before them have.