Some studies suggest creative people are more prone to depression and anxiety. It stands to reason that artists and creative people may turn to addictive substances to help with mental disorders. A history of drug and alcohol addiction is undoubtedly rife among famous creatives, contributing to a romantic idea of the ‘tortured artist’.
“There is a link between addiction and things [that] are a prerequisite for creativity. You don’t become addicted because you feel pleasure strongly,” he told Scientific American. “On the contrary, addicts seem to want it more, but like it less. They feel pleasures more weakly and are more likely to try more to achieve more … so novelty-seeking might be a spur to creativity.”
