Heroin and the Music Industry

I watched a movie recently about Jackson Pollock, the famous painter who was also extraordinarly mentally unstable. What was interesting was seeing his attempts to self-medicate through drugs and alcohol. That link between artists and drugs and alcohol has long been acknowledged, but it was still a suprise to read actor Russell Brand's comments that exposing young musicians to hard drugs would help strengthen the music industry.

The comedian and reformed drug addict said “teenyboppers” such as Justin Bieber wouldn’t be able to handle illegal substances like heroin.

“The top of the hit parade would look very different if teenyboppers were exposed to heroin,” he told Rolling Stone magazine.

“It would weed a lot of them out.”

He added: “I don't think Justin Bieber could handle [the late Pink Floyd member and addict] Syd Barrett's habit.”

Who says Hollywood doesn't have a healthy attitude toward drugs?