Heroin and Artists

“When the heroin is in my blood And that blood is in my head Then thank God that I'm as good as dead Then thank your God that I'm not aware And thank God that I just don't care And I guess I just don't know And I guess I just don't know”

-Lou Reed (from “Heroin” by The Velvet Underground)

New York poet and songwriter Lou Reed (1942-2013) didn’t die of heroin. Lou wised up, but only after drugs and alcohol had taken a harsh toll on his body.

Heroin and Death

 

Virtually anyone in America can name one famous person who was a heroin addict or died of a heroin overdose. River Phoenix, John Belushi, Cory Monteith, and Philip Seymour Hoffman all died from a heroin overdose or a mix of heroin and cocaine. Other artists such as Kurt Cobain, Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix, Miles Davis, Lenny Bruce, and Billie Holiday all suffered from heroin addiction. Those are just a few names on the list of artists who have abused, were addicted to, or died from heroin.

Heroin and Brain Chemistry

 

Heroin works by mimicking or triggering neurotransmitters released within the central nervous system, specifically the “reward” or analgesic chemicals such as dopamine and endorphins. These chemicals control how the body perceives pain and deals with stress, and they can help a person feel happier. There are natural activities that trigger the flow of neurotransmitters. These include exercise, massage, sex, eating dark chocolate, aromatherapy, and doing things that you enjoy, including creating art. Triggering endorphins and dopamine can help with creativity. This may be why many creative people take up running and other activities which clear their head and boost their mood. This fact is an excuse that is used by many addicts who believe they would be unable to create if they did not have drugs to boost their brain chemistry.

The Pull of Heroin and Other Drugs

 

The truth is that when an individual begins using addictive drugs like heroin or cocaine, their brain chemistry shifts. They become dependent upon that drug to “feel good” or “be creative.” The drug has such a hold on them that they are depressed and miserable when they aren’t high. The body and mind are in a sense tricked into perceiving that only the drug will provide any happiness whatsoever. Another reason an artist might use heroin or any drug is that it appears “cool” or “edgy.” The battle cry of “Sex, Drugs and Rock & Roll!” has been used as an excuse for self-destructive behavior. Singers, actors, painters, and authors have been led to believe that drinking or drugging will improve their work or that they are not a “true artist” unless they are stoned most of the time and living a micrometer away from death. These erroneous ideas probably go as far back as ancient Greece, Rome, Persia, or even further. Artists, musicians, writers – famous or not – are admired and even revered by most of the population, but those with less-than-noble intentions will latch onto the artist and covertly work to drag them down and too often this involves drug abuse.

Combating Heroin Addiction

 

Many artists have kicked their habit and experienced a powerful resurgence in their creative abilities. Anthony Kiedis of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Stephen King, Samuel L. Jackson, and Robert Downey Jr. moved beyond their addiction to have very successful careers. Robert Downy Jr. spoke about his struggle when he said, “The lesson is that you can still make mistakes and be forgiven.” Though he was in and out of rehab, and even jail, in the early stages of his career, he got clean and sober and is now an A-list star at the top of his game. Heroin is rarely perceived as a “party drug.” But in recent years, people abusing prescription painkillers have been switching to heroin, a shift due at least in part to price, availability, and government crackdowns on these medications, specifically opioids like OxyContin (oxycodone) and Vicodin (hydrocodone). In fact, heroin use in the US has almost doubled in the last five years, while abuse of the prescription opiate OxyContin has fallen dramatically in the past two years.

Heroin Addiction

 

Highly influential American jazz singer Billie Holiday (1915-1959) struggled with heroin and had this to say about its effect on the user, “If you think dope is for kicks and for thrills, you’re out of your mind. There are more kicks to be had in a good case of paralytic polio or by living in an iron lung. If you think you need stuff to play music or sing, you’re crazy. It can fix you so you can’t play nothing or sing nothing.” Whether it is snorted, smoked, or injected, heroin is a very addictive opiate. One can go from casual user to addict by trying it only once or twice. One of the reasons heroin is addictive is that it mimics or triggers a natural physical response (as detailed above), only this chemical rush is artificial and has a debilitating effect upon the internal organs and mental state of the user.

Withdrawal and the Effects of Heroin

 

Another powerful force behind heroin addiction is the withdrawal symptoms one might experience when attempting to quit. The pain and discomfort of withdrawal can last anywhere from 7-10 days and include anything from heavy sweating to nausea and fever to hallucinations. William S. Burroughs, author and figure of the Beat Generation, wrote these succinct words about heroin, “Junk is the ideal product…the ultimate merchandise. No sales talk necessary. The client will crawl through a sewer and beg to buy.” Many of the effects and risks involved with using heroin are far worse than any withdrawal symptom. These include:

• Dry mouth 
• Severe itching 
• Lethargy 
• Nausea and vomiting 
• Depressed breathing and heart rate 
• Inability to orgasm 
• Spontaneous abortion 
• Depression 
• Tolerance 
• Addiction 
• Bacterial infections 
•  Impotence 
• Abscesses 
• Collapsed veins 
• Gaunt, emaciated appearance 
• Infection of the lining and valves in the heart 
• Liver and kidney disease 
• Arthritis 
•  Coma 
• Overdose & Death (by respiratory depression, also called hypoventilation, defined as breathing at an abnormally slow rate, resulting in an increased amount of carbon dioxide in the blood.) 

Freedom from Heroin

 

With such a horrific list of effects (that was the short version), why would someone keep using heroin? Nikki Sixx of Motley Crue fame, who is miraculously still alive, said about heroin addiction, “When you can’t climb your way out of such a hole, you tend to crouch down and call it home.” Anthony Kiedis of the Red Hot Chili Peppers overcame heroin addiction and wrote a book about it, Scar Tissue, where he wrote, “These aren't just physical allergies, they're obsessions of the mind and maladies of the spirit. It's a threefold disease. And if it's partly a spiritual malady, then there's a spiritual cure.” Fortunately, through medical detoxification and holistic rehabilitation, an addict can work at it and get free from the shackles of heroin and can re-open the doors to creativity and joy.