Music, Substance Use, and Mental Health: The Cause and Effect of Creativity

Abstract

Musicians and substance use have been associated with each other since the beginning. Many musicians have indulged to the point of complete self destruction, as well as many impressionable young aspiring musicians. Because music has a certain tie to whatever cultural shifts are being experienced in a given time period, there has been an established cycle of substance use and abuse among the music community as well as the young community as a whole because these substances play a role in the shift. Any fan of popular music is well aware of this, yet it continues to happen despite years and years of evidence as to why this is a huge problem. There are numerous instances throughout history of complex situations in which the musician rises and tragically falls, and drugs as well as turbulent times usually play a role. These drugs play a role for a reason. They provide a world of creative boundary dissolution that would encourage any artist who didn’t know better or care to surrender their inhibitions and ego to the realm of infinite possibilities.