Drugs/Alcohol and Celebrities/Artists

So we all see the headlines of the Lindsy Lohans/ Pete Dohertys of the world in and out of rehab. Now my first thought was that its too much money and fame all at once.

But then I think of the Poes, Hemingways, F. Scott Fitzgerald, etc... and writers and artists of the "old days" suffered from drug and alcohol problems too.

So my question is, what is the corrolation, if any, between substance abuse and creativity.

Re: Drugs/Alcohol and Celebrities/Artists

I think for one, the abuse leads to uninhibitedness (sp) which lets you say / do / create / write things you normally would not have if you were sober.

Re: Drugs/Alcohol and Celebrities/Artists

Considering so many celebrities in this day and age lack any real substantive creativity, I don't think that's the connection anymore.

I think it has more to with how society reacts to fame these days. The rise is so quick, so overwhelming, but so hard to maintain. The public is much more critical than it used to be, and unless you are REALLY hard, and aren't dealing with your own demons to begin with, I think many of these celebrities will fall.