If you’re creative, or you know someone in your life who is, you may notice there seems to be a correlation between that quality and the increased use of alcohol or drugs. This leads to an interesting question. Are you more likely to become addicted to a substance or use it as a crutch if you are a naturally creative person?
You can check out a Newport Beach recovery facility if you live near one and think drugs or alcohol are starting to become a serious issue for you.
Before you do that, though, it’s worth talking about whether there’s a link between drug or alcohol use and creativity.
There is Anecdotal Evidence to Suggest This is True.
To put it as succinctly as possible, there is no direct evidence that says if someone is creative, they automatically will be more susceptible to addiction or problematic substance behavior. One reason is because there’s no simple test that can determine whether a person is creative or not.
A parent might say that their child is creative, but others around them may not feel the same way. To some extent, creativity is in the eye of the beholder. However, it’s safe to say that most people in someone’s periphery can agree on whether that individual shows a creative streak.
It could also be said that there’s anecdotal evidence that suggests that people who are creative enjoy using drugs or alcohol. Often, they do so because they like the stimulating feelings that such substances produce.
The argument could therefore be made that there’s anecdotal evidence suggesting creative individuals are more at risk of becoming addicted.
There Are Exceptions to the Rule as Well.
However, it’s also important to say that there are plenty of individuals who could objectively be described as creative, but they never get themselves into trouble with alcohol or drugs. Some people are artists, musicians, or show creativity in other areas, and they never get started on this path, or they only use drugs or alcohol sparingly.
It would be accurate to say that while many creative individuals fall into addiction behavior patterns, others do not. It speaks to everyone being different, including those who most people would agree have a noticeable creative streak.
It’s Something to Keep an Eye On.
If you’re creative, or you know someone who is, there is no guarantee that addiction is going to become a problem for you or that person. It might, but then again, individuality and force of will are usually quite powerful. Just because many creative people become addicts, that does not guarantee the two things will go together 100% of the time.
If you’re creative, or you know someone who is, it’s probably something to keep an eye on. However, you should approach every case differently. Judging someone’s behavior based on what other people do is never fair.
Each person is an individual, and they must have a chance to grow and develop without anyone having preconceived expectations about them.
