David Crosby experienced a decline in creativity due to his drug addiction, struggling to write during his period of substance abuse. Many contemporaries also suffered similar fates, showcasing a troubling pattern. The detrimental effects of drugs on creativity are evidenced by personal experiences and the tragic outcomes of numerous pop stars. Crosby ultimately rejected the myth of drugs as creativity enhancers, affirming that his creativity returned once he stopped using hard drugs. Although psychedelics may have potential benefits for creative cognition, opiates and alcohol appear to obstruct creative processes.
As the drug use line went up, the music writing went down. And they were corresponding curves... It got so bad that I didn't write anything for two years.
The minute I stopped doing hard drugs then, BANG! the creativity came right back and I started writing again.
Chemical excess had a debilitating effect on many of Crosby's contemporaries, too, such as Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys, his bandmate Stephen Stills, and Jerry Garcia.
Drugs damage creativity by dulling our awareness, making us self-absorbed, and impairing critical faculties.
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