Are Drugs a Source of Inspiration?

by Terisa Thurman

One of my pet peeves is people using drugs and/or alcohol on set.  It's annoying for a film crew who is working hard to get the shots just so and wrap at a decent hour plus, it has the potential of being dangerous.  Yet,  some people, mostly musicians on the sets of music videos in my experience,  think it brings out their creativity, or calms them, or whatever!  

But what is the truth?   Are drugs a source of inspiration?  

In 2010 Lady Gaga reportedly said that drugs inspired her; yet, turned it around to say that she drew from a dark period in her life when she was using hard drugs.  I found another article on the subject in the New York Times that highlighted the life and death of Layne Staley, the lead singer of Alice in Chains who died in Seattle at the age of 34 on April 19 in 2002 with heroin paraphernalia nearby.  The reporter says, "In the end, Mr. Staley wasn't cool because he died a junkie's death after a long downward spiral. He was only cool while he could still sing about it."  The reporter adds, "And if Mr. Staley or his fans thought that he had to stay messed up to maintain his bleak insights, they were wrong. He could have been realistic without being autobiographical."

LAYNE STALEY
These are only a few examples of drugs being used for inspiration and ones that point to the negative. I'll admit I'm biased.  As far as using drugs for inspiration, it's a road I'm just not willing to go down.