Why do you think so many artists do drugs/drink?

There are all kinds of opinions out there... and I know it's not all of them, but this type of behavior defintely stands out in artists.  In part I think it is because most great artists feel a lot more than the average person... as they get older they may lose some of those strong emotions and they drug themselves to feel a lot again... to spark creativity.  It may also be due to the fact that as they get older they no longer want to play the songs they once loved to play... it becomes a job.  This depresses them and they do drugs to kill the pain brought on by losing what they once thought was pure.  What do you think?   

It helps creativity.  I know I play better when I'm at least buzzed.  

Could be a lot of reasons.  Probably one of the biggest ones is they just don't take things too seriously.

There may be some association between being creative/artistic and having an addictive personality.

I was expecting very deep and drawn out answers. I am not sure why the hell I was expecting that. BenedictArnold7

I think it's a pretty simple matter.  

[QUOTE="BenedictArnold7"]I was expecting very deep and drawn out answers. I am not sure why the hell I was expecting that. hartsickdiscipl

I think it's a pretty simple matter.  

They're lazy hippies.

 It isn't. BenedictArnold7

They're lazy hippies.

[QUOTE="BenedictArnold7"] It isn't. cain006

 You didn't answer anything. Empty answers are meaningless. BenedictArnold7

some make them more creative Rich3232

1.When you're extremely rich and/or famous you're overstimulated. Humans naturally have their dopamine levels adapt from temporary highs to new situations to "normal" levels over time. For example when you get a new girlfreind/job/car you feel really awesome for 2 weeks to a couple months, but after a while it becomes the norm and your happiness goes back to normal levels.

This exists to encourage humans to keep learning/gathering/following basic functions because otherwise humans would lose their drive quickly and go extinct.

Because they get anything they want, their dopamine levels adapt to having no challange in women, having any house/car/freinds/random object they want and they get bored over time as their brain adjusts and to feel anything at all they have to resort to hard drugs.

2. Culture of artists is shady.

3. money gives you access to sleeze.

4. artists have much higher rates of mental illness than the general population by default.

Combine those and you get drug problems among almost everybody in that situation.

[QUOTE="Rich3232"]some make them more creative Wolfetan

[QUOTE="hartsickdiscipl"]

[QUOTE="BenedictArnold7"]I was expecting very deep and drawn out answers. I am not sure why the hell I was expecting that. BenedictArnold7

I think it's a pretty simple matter.  

I'll repeat what I said in my first post, but in more detail- Drugs and alcohol help lower inhibitions.  That helps the creative process.  After awhile, it becomes a lifestyle.  It's that simple.  

[QUOTE="Wolfetan"][QUOTE="Rich3232"]some make them more creative MrGeezer

[QUOTE="Wolfetan"][QUOTE="Rich3232"]some make them more creative MrGeezer

You just called all artists sh*tty. Name one artist that didn't drink or do drugs.Wolfetan

There are all kinds of opinions out there... and I know it's not all of them, but this type of behavior defintely stands out in artists.  In part I think it is because most great artists feel a lot more than the average person... as they get older they may lose some of those strong emotions and they drug themselves to feel a lot again... to spark creativity.  It may also be due to the fact that as they get older they no longer want to play the songs they once loved to play... it becomes a job.  This depresses them and they do drugs to kill the pain brought on by losing what they once thought was pure.  What do you think?   

BenedictArnold7