Addiction Can Affect Professional Artists
Written By: Jose Londoño | Edited By: Editorial Team | Last Updated: March 10, 2021
Springboard Recovery provides effective treatment for substance use & mental health disorders.
Table of contents
- What is an Addiction?
- The Difference Between Drug Misuse, Abuse And Addiction
- Why Would Artists Use Drugs or Alcohol?
- Artists Can be Affected by Co-occurring Disorders
- Some Well-Known Artists With Drug and Alcohol Addictions
- What Might Stop Artists From Getting Drug Addiction Treatment?
- What Does Drug and Alcohol Addiction Look Like?
- Addiction Treatment Options Available for Artists
- Drug and Alcohol Rehab Treatment Options
- SpringBoard Recovery Can Help
- Learn More About Addiction Help For Artists
Evan Leonard MS, MMS, PA-C
Dr. Leonard is a Doctor of Medical Science and a clinical anatomist. He has practiced in both internal and emergency medicine and has published several, peer-reviewed articles and a medical book chapter.
When someone thinks of artists and addiction often the first thing that comes to mind are entertainers that have overdosed. Professional artists from a variety of backgrounds can be fighting drug and alcohol addictions. The truth is addiction can happen to anyone.
Our outpatient drug treatment program allows you to keep work and family commitments while focusing on your sobriety.
Art is as old as the human race. From cave paintings to the latest blockbuster movie, art has always been a big part of life. There is a multitude of art forms, but they all seem to fit into seven basic categories. These categories are:
- Painting
- Cinema
- Theater
- Music
- Sculpture
- Literature
- Architecture
Art as a career can be an amazing experience. Earning money for writing, acting, graphic design, or another art form can be a dream come true. However, it is just as possible to end up in an addiction working in these industries as any other.
What is an Addiction?
An addiction is the inability to stop consuming a drug, substance, or activity even when it causes physical or psychological harm. A person does not usually do something once and becomes addicted. When they continue to repeat the behavior, they eventually become dependent on it to cope with life on a daily basis.
People can easily become addicted to drugs. This includes alcohol, illicit drugs, or prescription drugs. A person can also develop behavioral addictions, like gambling, shopping, or even working.
Why Would Artists Use Drugs or Alcohol?
There are a lot of possible reasons that people start to use drugs or alcohol. They may start out of curiosity or peer pressure. They could be using because of the euphoria that comes with using drugs. Some may use drugs or alcohol to reduce social anxiety or stress.
Artists from any kind of medium can be affected by drug and alcohol addiction. Some may be more famous than the everyday person, but they have the same struggles. They may begin to use substances to relieve anxiety or other emotional challenges.
Some artists may start to do drugs or drink a lot to fit in with the rest of the crowd. Those who want to make sure they look like they belong will copy the behaviors of the people they want to spend time with. This can be a dangerous situation and they can easily become addicted.
Then there is the false notion that drug or alcohol use improves creativity. Some artists may produce great music or fantastic paintings while they are using drugs or alcohol. Many claim to be more creative while using, but there is no scientific evidence.
Why Would Artists Use Drugs or Alcohol?
There are a lot of possible reasons that people start to use drugs or alcohol. They may start out of curiosity or peer pressure. They could be using because of the euphoria that comes with using drugs. Some may use drugs or alcohol to reduce social anxiety or stress.
Artists from any kind of medium can be affected by drug and alcohol addiction. Some may be more famous than the everyday person, but they have the same struggles. They may begin to use substances to relieve anxiety or other emotional challenges.
Some artists may start to do drugs or drink a lot to fit in with the rest of the crowd. Those who want to make sure they look like they belong will copy the behaviors of the people they want to spend time with. This can be a dangerous situation and they can easily become addicted.
Then there is the false notion that drug or alcohol use improves creativity. Some artists may produce great music or fantastic paintings while they are using drugs or alcohol. Many claim to be more creative while using, but there is no scientific evidence.
Artists Can be Affected by Co-occurring Disorders
Many times someone who abuses drugs or alcohol may have mental health issues. They use drugs or alcohol to self-medicate instead of seeing a professional for help. Having a mental health issue and substance abuse issue at the same time is called a co-occurring disorder. The National Institute on Drug Abuse says 7.7 million adults have co-occurring disorders. Some common co-occurring disorders can include:
Some Well-Known Artists With Drug and Alcohol Addictions
While people who are well known for their art may seem larger than life, they also may struggle with addictions.
Painter Thomas Kinkade’s work has been used as calendars, puzzles, and has appeared on various kinds of collectibles. In his lifetime he painted over 1000 images of peaceful scenes. His death in 2012 was drug and alcohol-related. The autopsy showed a lethal combination of alcohol and Valium.
Author Stephen King did an interview with Rolling Stone Magazine and talked a little about his addictions. He had been a heavy drinker and then got into cocaine. King says that the quality of his books went down while he was abusing drugs. He overcame addiction and is sober now.
When someone thinks of music and drug addictions they usually think of popular music like rock or metal. That is not always the case. Katya Tsukanova was a brilliant violinist who had performed around the world. Days after turning 17 she died from an overdose of cocaine and ketamine.
What Might Stop Artists From Getting Drug Addiction Treatment?
There is a wide range of reasons that could prevent someone from seeking drug and alcohol addiction treatment. In the 2019 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, people who did not seek treatment gave the following reasons:
- 39.9% said they were not ready to quit using
- 23.8% said they did not know where to go for treatment
- 20.9% said they had no health insurance and could not afford the cost
- 17.2% said it might cause their neighbors/ community to have a negative opinion
- 16.8% said it might have a negative effect on their job
- 14.7% said they could not find a program that offered the type of treatment they wanted
- 11.7% said they could handle the problem without treatment
Change can be scary. Some people who are not ready to quit may be afraid of failing. They may not see the benefits of quitting and might not recognize the damage addiction is doing to their lives.it is possible they are not ready to quit because they can not see how their life would look without drugs or alcohol.
This can be a barrier to those who struggle with addiction. Fortunately, a quick internet search can help those people find a starting point. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration has an online treatment locator map to help people find treatment options in their area.
Drug and alcohol treatment can be expensive. Treatment costs vary widely depending on the level of care someone needs to get sober. It could be anywhere from $2,000 to $25,000. Someone who does have insurance can get some substance use treatment covered. The Affordable Care Act requires some coverage by law.
Many people who suffer from addiction might not seek treatment because of the way other people may treat them. Many people in society and the health care system still see drug and alcohol addiction as a moral defect. This stigma can even lead to substandard care by medical professionals.
What Does Drug and Alcohol Addiction Look Like?
Sometimes a drug or alcohol addiction is not obvious. An artist who is creating and productive may not appear to have a problem. Here are some signals that a person could be addicted:
- They use a drug as soon as they wake up or before going to bed
- Taking one drug to overcome the effects of another
- Lying to a doctor to get prescription drugs
- Requests to borrow money
- They have withdrawn socially, isolating themselves
- They decided to buy drugs instead of paying a bill that was due
- They feel like they cannot live without their drug of choice
- They avoid people that do not approve of drug or alcohol use
- Lying about how much of a drug they have used or what kind of drug they used
Addiction Treatment Options Available for Artists
The first step to recovery might be drug and alcohol detox. Detoxification is when a substance completely leaves the body. During this process, a person goes through physical and mental changes while not continuing to use a substance.
These physical and mental changes are called withdrawal symptoms. Without professional help, a person might start using drugs again to stop the uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms. In some cases, medical supervision is necessary because the withdrawal symptoms can be dangerous or even fatal.
Medical assistance is the safest way to detox from drugs and alcohol. Some of the more dangerous withdrawal symptoms can be seizures, psychotic episodes, or suicidal thoughts. Types of detox available include:
- Holistic detox– A Holistic detox approach uses natural methods to support the body while it empties of drugs or alcohol. The method combines nutritional therapy, emotional support, and exercise programs to assist recovery.
- Medical detox- Medical detox uses medical professionals’ supervision to monitor withdrawal symptoms. Medications can be given to avoid some symptoms.
- Medication assisted treatment- Medication assisted treatment combines medication and behavioral therapy. This treatment uses FDA-approved medications that do not impair a person’s mental state. This reduces cravings and allows for behavioral therapy to be most effective.
Drug and Alcohol Rehab Treatment Options
After an artist has gone through the detox process if it was needed the next step is rehab. Detox does not fix an addiction. To stay sober a person needs to address why they were using drugs or alcohol and change that behavior pattern. If they are dealing with a co-occurring disorder listed above, the best approach is to treat both at the same time.
There are several types of rehab treatment that can be used to stop an addiction. The best style of treatment depends on the level of addiction each person is dealing with. Talking with a professional can help determine what treatment is needed.
Types of rehab available include:
- Traditional Outpatient Therapy- This is the least restrictive type of therapy. Patients can meet with a counselor once a week or several times a week depending on the amount of care they need. This is usually best for someone who has already been through more involved therapy and could still benefit from counseling sessions.
- Intensive Outpatient Programs- (IOP) this style of outpatient treatment can be good for people who do not have co-occurring disorders but need more than a once-a-week counseling session. IOPs usually meet three to four times a week for approximately three hours at a time.
- Partial hospitalization programs- (PHPs) This type of program is the most intense outpatient program. It is sometimes called a day treatment program. These programs meet five to seven days a week for several hours a day. Afterward, the patient returns home.
- Inpatient treatment– This is the highest level of care. Often people will go from detox straight to inpatient services. People at this level of care live at the treatment program, sleeping, eating, and doing therapy without leaving the facility. The most common length of stay is twenty-eight days, but someone can stay longer if needed.
SpringBoard Recovery Can Help
At SpringBoard Recovery, we have flexible options to help artists get the treatment they need to get sober. Medical professionals design the best treatment plan for each person. We take into consideration how long someone has been using and the amount of support they need.
SpringBoard Recovery offers intensive outpatient programs and various types of therapy. We can also help those with co-occurring disorders. Some of the therapy choices we offer include:
Learn More About Addiction Help For Artists
An artist’s creativity should not have to suffer due to drug or alcohol addiction. Help is available. Do you need more information about drug and alcohol addiction treatment for yourself or a loved one? Do not wait any longer, contact us today.
