Drugs in the Music Industry


The Music World-glamorous, fast paced, and a world most of us will never
be part of.   But if we knew what it entailed, would we still want to be?   The
whole world seems to be building itself around drugs more and more every day,
and music industry isn't immune.   In fact, 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.

    In the last two or three years, drugs, especially heroin, have risen in
use dramatically.   Kurt Cobain was the most high-profile drug-related rock star
since the 1970's and was still battling heroin addiction when he committed
suicide in 1994.   Along with him, his wife Courtney Love made it fashionable to
be a "junkie".   In the last year, Stone Temple Pilot's singer Scott Weiland and
Depeche Mode singer David Gahan, among others, have been arrested for cocaine or
heroin possession. The number of top bands that have been linked to heroin
through a member's overdose, arrest, admitted use or recovery is staggering:
Smashing pumpkins, Everclear, Snoop Doggy Dogg, Dr. Dre, Blind Melon, Red Hot
Chili Peppers, The Breeders, Alice in Chains, Sex Pistols, Sublime, Iggy Pop,
the list goes on and on.   Together, these bands have sold more than 60 million
albums(Newsweek pgs 50 & 53).

Since kids emulate popular musicians, what is there to keep them from
emulating their drug use?   Moreover, what's to keep the majority of the
population from doing the same?   In the 60's and 70's, drug use was never spoken
of nor did anyone admit that it was a problem.   Nowadays, there is not a person
in the world who hasn't heard about the rising drug use.   But what are they
doing about it? Back in the 80's, higher prices, the fear of contracting AIDS,
and lower purity kept drugs out of the mainstream.   Now, drugs are cheaper and
easier to get then ever, being imported into the country at double the rate it
was in the 1980's.   Unfortunately,... [continues]

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