Creativity to many is seen as a gift only the chosen few have access to, and that even the hardest of workers can only really just scratch the surface of it. While to some others it is gotten not only by latent but through working hard and trying to tap into the creative potential within us. Among these different school of thoughts, there are also some that believe that creativity can be enhanced through substance and drug use. The latter seems shady and not credible, yet there are various claims from people, artists and creatives included that seem to validate the idea.

What is Creativity?

To an extent, creativity to most people in the society is limited to only artists and people involved with arts. These are included but they are not the limits. Office workers, teachers and inventors are as creative and indulge in the creative processes just as much as musicians, artists and so on. Every single person is capable of being creative. So what in earnest is creativity? Although there are so many definitions to the word, creativity is simply is a phenomenon whereby something new and valuable is formed. Creativity is defined as the tendency to generate or recognize ideas, alternatives, or possibilities that may be useful in solving problems, communicating with others, and entertaining ourselves and others. It is thinking to oustide the box or doing things in a non conventional way

So do drugs really do enhance creativity or is just another myth?

Although unconventional, some people have come out to testify of the positive results of using drugs like increased focus, reduced inhibitions and altered state of consciousness that lead to the creation and discovery of novel ideas and inspires insight. some scientific studies have found a correlation between certain types of drug use and increased creativity.That being said, there are a few ways in which certain drugs may enhance creativity in the short-term. For example, drugs such as cannabis and psilocybin have been reported to increase divergent thinking, which is a cognitive process that involves generating multiple creative ideas or solutions to a problem. These drugs may also increase the ability to make connections between seemingly unrelated concepts and ideas, leading to new and innovative ways of thinking. What most of these substances like alcohol do is to remove the inhibitions our brain has put on us, so we are now less critical of ourselves and more open to new experiences and improvisations

This does not change the fact that these are temporary advantages, and substance abuse in the long run does more than enough to cause addictions, impair creativity and cognitive functions and ends up leading to mental and physical illnesses that hinders one’s ability to create. The use of drugs and substances to boost creativity, according to researchers have little to no effect, rather it is associated with impairing the creative process and long term dependency on them. It also leads to bad judgment and causes harm to motor functions, increasing the risks of accidents or incidents such as uncontrollable outbursts of emotions

What brought about the myth?

Yes, the substances may work, alongside the inevitable long term disadvantaged they pose, but how exactly did they use of drugs and and substances become so romanticized especially in creativity? Many people have tried to find the link between creatives, mental illnesses and drugs, leading to baseless theories that you must have a disorder or be really high to be able to make good music or write well or something of sort. So when someone who is genuinely creatives says he makes use of a substance, most common people or people not exceptionally creative would begin create a link and start to believe the substance as the original catalyst for the creation and of course we can not forget the role of social media and whats not along with some artists creating the impression that the substances are really what are behind their works and not them being in fact gifted or exceptionally creative.

It is important to note that the use of drugs and substances relating to it does not have the same effect on everybody, to some there might little or some signs of enhancements in their creative processes while to others it might be more of a hindrance. Another reason for artist and creative dependency is that although they posses their exceptional abilities with or without the use substances and drugs, the process of creating, whether music, art, inventions and etc, may be so so mentally tasking that they use such to disassociate from reality or release stress or to even keep up.

Furthermore, there are multiple safer and healthier ways to help enhance ones creativity, such as through mindfulness practices,regular exercises, and pursuing new experiences and interest. Good sleeping habits and healthy diets also have a part to play. It also helps to engage in mental and creative activities and tasks.