There are concerns that the music industry has been over-run with drugs
and alcohol amid a culture of ‘self-destruction’ among young male and
female musicians and entertainers alike. Many have embraced the dark
side of the music industry and ended up in more trouble than they
courted.
Does the music industry overly glamorize and perpetuate the use and abuse of drugs and alcohol? An entertainer operates in an environment that gives positive reinforcement to damaging behaviours like none other, and hundreds of thousands -find themselves coping with the fallout from that. Celebrities may be at special risk but speaking with some stakeholders in the Nigerian entertainment industry, they revealed that they are addressing the menace.
The shocking stories are familiar – lives being cut short and dreams shattered by costant alcohol and drug abuse. Cocaine contributed to Whitney Houston’s death. She drowned in her bathtub in a Beverly Hills hotel. Michael Jackson died not far from the same location in 2009 after his doctor administered a lethal dose of the sedative Propofol. British singer Amy Winehouse was troubled by addiction and died of alcohol poisoning.
In recent years, there have been excessive consumption of drugs and alcohol among Nigerian entertainers but many of them are still grappling to manage its damaging effects. Experts say alcohol and drug abuse is a problem in the general population but entertainers are especially vulnerable because of the long hours on the road and the intense demands of keeping up with performaces. There’s a lot of down time, a lot of traveling, a lot of boredom, a lot of sitting, a lot of doing nothing and more.
Drug and alcohol abuse is a special risk for those who find fame and fortune as performers. Some people around the artistes can be enablers and others may turn a blind eye to the addiction. Successful artistes are creative and driven, and some have underlying emotional problems that fuel addiction and need treatment.
Some young musicians think drug use is part of being creative. The availability of the so-called ‘cool factor’ which is quite disapproving, play a bigger part in the entertainment business than other professions.
The industry is less tolerant of drug use now than a few years ago. Those who work with celebrities say the key to dealing with drug abuse is early intervention, effective treatment and a support system. They say recovery can be a lifelong process.
In the music industry, there is majority because they see it as a source of inspiration. Music is one of the most influential art forms of today’s society, and drugs, especially to today’s youth, just add to the attractiveness of it all.
The music industry is a fast paced glamorous world that many of us will never be part of. In many instances, there is more than meets the eyes. Drugs, especially heroin, have risen in use dramatically. Kurt Cobain was the most high-profiled drug-related rock star since the 1970′s and was still battling heroin addiction when he committed suicide in 1994. The number of top acts that have been linked to heroin is staggering: Everclear, Snoop Dogg (now Snoop Lion), Dr. Dre, Blind Melon, Red Hot Chili Peppers, The Breeders and many more. Ironically, these acts have sold millions of albums.
Since kids emulate popular musicians, what is there to keep them from emulating their drugs riden life styles? Moreover, what’s to keep the majority of the population from doing the same? Nowadays, there is not a person in the world who hasn’t heard about the rising spate of drug use and eventual abuse. Now, drugs are cheaper and easier to get than ever.
Many acts in the music industry who are struggling with the available excesses worry that if they turn their backs on drug, they will lose what makes their music good or what makes them appealing to their fans. It’s simply not true. It is better to control it or you will lose your career. If you’re lucky, that is all you will lose and not your life.
Artistes’ bad behaviors shouldn’t in any way be interesting to the society. It should be frowned at and greatly discouraged. You don’t need to drink or use drugs uncontrollably to create good music.
Artistes will always find someone around to tell them that it is okay that they drank too much to get on stage. The downside is that those people are either using such artistes to get a temporary bit of excitement only to abandon them to their chaos as they return to their stable lives and families, or they are equally out of control and will bring you down further with them. Here is a sound warning; know who really cares about you and listen to them, even if you don’t like it!
Another method is to keep your communal areas, including the bus/van, hotel rooms, etc, alcohol/drug free zones. The same goes for studios and practice spaces.
Tackling substance abuse is always a process, and for a musician, the road is absolutely littered with pitfalls and temptations. Tripping up is normal and expected but it does not translate into failure. Get help working through the process. The support of your friends and family is crucial, but look outside of that circle for advice as well. You can also ask around in the music community to find out what has helped other musicians.
http://eraveng.com/2014/04/26/erave-editorialthe-abuse-of-drugs-in-the-music-industry/
Does the music industry overly glamorize and perpetuate the use and abuse of drugs and alcohol? An entertainer operates in an environment that gives positive reinforcement to damaging behaviours like none other, and hundreds of thousands -find themselves coping with the fallout from that. Celebrities may be at special risk but speaking with some stakeholders in the Nigerian entertainment industry, they revealed that they are addressing the menace.
The shocking stories are familiar – lives being cut short and dreams shattered by costant alcohol and drug abuse. Cocaine contributed to Whitney Houston’s death. She drowned in her bathtub in a Beverly Hills hotel. Michael Jackson died not far from the same location in 2009 after his doctor administered a lethal dose of the sedative Propofol. British singer Amy Winehouse was troubled by addiction and died of alcohol poisoning.
In recent years, there have been excessive consumption of drugs and alcohol among Nigerian entertainers but many of them are still grappling to manage its damaging effects. Experts say alcohol and drug abuse is a problem in the general population but entertainers are especially vulnerable because of the long hours on the road and the intense demands of keeping up with performaces. There’s a lot of down time, a lot of traveling, a lot of boredom, a lot of sitting, a lot of doing nothing and more.
Drug and alcohol abuse is a special risk for those who find fame and fortune as performers. Some people around the artistes can be enablers and others may turn a blind eye to the addiction. Successful artistes are creative and driven, and some have underlying emotional problems that fuel addiction and need treatment.
Some young musicians think drug use is part of being creative. The availability of the so-called ‘cool factor’ which is quite disapproving, play a bigger part in the entertainment business than other professions.
The industry is less tolerant of drug use now than a few years ago. Those who work with celebrities say the key to dealing with drug abuse is early intervention, effective treatment and a support system. They say recovery can be a lifelong process.
In the music industry, there is majority because they see it as a source of inspiration. Music is one of the most influential art forms of today’s society, and drugs, especially to today’s youth, just add to the attractiveness of it all.
The music industry is a fast paced glamorous world that many of us will never be part of. In many instances, there is more than meets the eyes. Drugs, especially heroin, have risen in use dramatically. Kurt Cobain was the most high-profiled drug-related rock star since the 1970′s and was still battling heroin addiction when he committed suicide in 1994. The number of top acts that have been linked to heroin is staggering: Everclear, Snoop Dogg (now Snoop Lion), Dr. Dre, Blind Melon, Red Hot Chili Peppers, The Breeders and many more. Ironically, these acts have sold millions of albums.
Since kids emulate popular musicians, what is there to keep them from emulating their drugs riden life styles? Moreover, what’s to keep the majority of the population from doing the same? Nowadays, there is not a person in the world who hasn’t heard about the rising spate of drug use and eventual abuse. Now, drugs are cheaper and easier to get than ever.
Many acts in the music industry who are struggling with the available excesses worry that if they turn their backs on drug, they will lose what makes their music good or what makes them appealing to their fans. It’s simply not true. It is better to control it or you will lose your career. If you’re lucky, that is all you will lose and not your life.
Artistes’ bad behaviors shouldn’t in any way be interesting to the society. It should be frowned at and greatly discouraged. You don’t need to drink or use drugs uncontrollably to create good music.
Artistes will always find someone around to tell them that it is okay that they drank too much to get on stage. The downside is that those people are either using such artistes to get a temporary bit of excitement only to abandon them to their chaos as they return to their stable lives and families, or they are equally out of control and will bring you down further with them. Here is a sound warning; know who really cares about you and listen to them, even if you don’t like it!
Another method is to keep your communal areas, including the bus/van, hotel rooms, etc, alcohol/drug free zones. The same goes for studios and practice spaces.
Tackling substance abuse is always a process, and for a musician, the road is absolutely littered with pitfalls and temptations. Tripping up is normal and expected but it does not translate into failure. Get help working through the process. The support of your friends and family is crucial, but look outside of that circle for advice as well. You can also ask around in the music community to find out what has helped other musicians.
http://eraveng.com/2014/04/26/erave-editorialthe-abuse-of-drugs-in-the-music-industry/
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