Buzz
Throughout history, many brilliant individuals saw their lives tragically cut short by the grip of drug abuse and addiction. The premature deaths of Jean-Michel Basquiat, John Belushi, and more recently Philip Seymour Hoffman stand as somber reminders of how extraordinary talent can be lost to destructive substance use.
While drug use undeniably carries significant risks, for many historical figures, it was intimately connected to the creation of their greatest works. Inventors, writers, scientists, and artists alike often turned to substances that, in some cases, seemed to amplify their genius.
10. Thomas Edison
Thomas Edison, known for holding over 1,000 patents, was often credited with his remarkable productivity (and lack of sleep). One of the secrets behind this was his reliance on a drink laced with cocaine, called Vin Mariani. This Bordeaux wine was infused with coca leaves, making the active ingredient cocaine itself.
Edison frequently criticized the work habits of his peers, claiming he could work non-stop for up to 72 hours, taking only short naps. This claim becomes even more believable when considering the influence of cocaine on his energy levels.
Edison wasn’t the only famous figure to enjoy Vin Mariani. President William McKinley was also a regular consumer of the drink. But perhaps the most surprising enthusiast was Pope Leo XIII, who was so taken with it that he awarded its creator, Angelo Mariani from Corsica, a medal of appreciation.
9. Ken Kesey
Ken Kesey, author of One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest and Sometimes a Great Notion, is also renowned for his pivotal role in the 1960s counterculture movement. He led his own drug circle, the Merry Pranksters, and was a Stanford graduate student when he participated in the government-funded MKULTRA project. This project exposed him to various hallucinogenic drugs, including LSD. Much of his famous novel was written under the influence of this potent drug.
After his involvement with the MKULTRA project, Kesey used the money he earned from publishing One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest to purchase an old school bus. He and the Merry Pranksters revamped it for a cross-country trip to New York, with Neal Cassady, a muse of the Beat Generation, behind the wheel. Kesey also organized the Acid Tests, events where participants would take LSD while the Grateful Dead played or literary figures such as Allen Ginsberg and Lawrence Ferlinghetti performed their work. Tom Wolfe chronicled this adventure in his book, The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test.
8. Friedrich Nietzsche
During his lifetime, the famous German philosopher was largely underappreciated, which led him to turn to drugs in the later years of his life. Although the exact substance of his addiction remains unclear, it is widely believed that he used a Javanese opium derivative. While battling this addiction, Nietzsche produced one of his most important works, *The Genealogy of Morals*, completing it in just over two weeks.
He was acutely aware of the lack of recognition his works received, as seen in a letter to his sister where he wrote: 'You do not even seem to be remotely conscious of the fact that you are the next of kin to a man whose destiny is to decide the fate of millennia—speaking quite literally, I hold the future of mankind in my hand.' He also remarked, 'The Germans are too stupid for the loftiness of my spirit.' Imagine if his lofty spirit hadn't been subdued by his addiction to opium.
7. The Beatles
A glance at the titles of The Beatles' early and later albums reveals a dramatic transformation in the band's style. Starting with hits like 'Love Me Do,' 'Please, Please Me,' and 'I Want to Hold Your Hand,' they evolved into the experimental sounds of 'Tomorrow Never Knows,' 'Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds,' and 'Strawberry Fields Forever.' It's undeniable that LSD played a pivotal role in this musical evolution.
Interestingly, it was none other than Bob Dylan who urged the band to experiment with drugs like marijuana. This influence was reflected in their evolving lyrics, musical style, and even their fashion choices. All of the Beatles members experimented with LSD at some point, with John Lennon and George Harrison known for frequent use. However, it was Paul who first shared his thoughts on the drug's effects, stating that it not only broadened his perspective but also made him a 'better, more honest, more tolerant' individual in society.
6. Hunter S. Thompson
It’s no surprise that many authors appear on this list, as a number of writers were inspired by drugs, particularly stimulants like cocaine or amphetamines. Figures like Allen Ginsberg, Samuel Taylor Coleridge, Jack Kerouac, and countless others used substances to fuel their creativity, often referencing them in their works.
Thompson’s story is particularly intriguing because his drug use became so intertwined with his work that his most famous quote is closely tied to his drug-affected persona: 'I hate to advocate drugs, alcohol, violence, or insanity to anyone…but they’ve always worked for me.' While Thompson is known and admired in some circles for his unconventional lifestyle and drug use, he is also credited with producing some of the most brilliant writing and biting political critiques of the 20th century.
5. Aldous Huxley
Aldous Huxley’s most well-known work is *A Brave New World*, but he also sparked interest in psychedelics by volunteering as a subject for research. Huxley theorized that the brain constrains consciousness and that hallucinogens could help expand it. His book *The Doors of Perception* chronicled his experiences and supported this belief. Huxley argued that mescaline, combined with prayer or meditation, could help achieve enlightenment.
The title of Huxley’s book comes from a line in *The Marriage of Heaven and Hell* by William Blake: 'If the doors of perception were cleansed, everything would appear to man as it is, infinite. For man has closed himself up, till he sees all things through narrow chinks of his cavern.' Huxley’s book inspired the name of a band whose leader, Jim Morrison, was also deeply interested in hallucinogenic substances: The Doors.
4. Pablo Picasso
Arguably the most influential artist of the 20th century, Picasso experimented with groundbreaking techniques, including Cubism. But it was not just art that Picasso experimented with, as the painter was also known to use psychotropic drugs.
Many believe that Cubism was the direct result of Picasso’s use of opium, morphine, and hashish, though this is still up for debate. One look at some of the great master’s artistic endeavors seems to be very telling, however, as the manner in which Picasso perceived the world seems completely different from the way anyone else does.
Picasso’s Cubist works were not the only ones seemingly influenced by his drug use, as his use of opium and hashish may have affected his vision significantly. Some believe that his Rose Period was also profoundly affected by his penchant for psychotropic drugs.
3. Winston Churchill
Winston Churchill's sleep schedule is well-documented, with accounts revealing his tendency to work long hours that often exhausted those around him. During World War II, he routinely worked until 3:00 AM and woke up at 8:00 AM, leaving him with only five hours of sleep each night. However, it’s worth noting that the prime minister also indulged in an afternoon nap to help recharge.
Churchill’s relentless work ethic and his reduced need for sleep may have been influenced by his use of amphetamines, a drug commonly given to his soldiers. The drug was prescribed to him to treat his depression, and his foreign secretary and eventual successor, Anthony Eden, was also known to use it. Churchill relied on amphetamines to stay alert during a time when the world’s fate seemed to rest heavily on his shoulders.
Churchill was not the only prominent leader to use amphetamines during this period. Adolf Hitler was also reportedly a user of this powerful and dangerous drug.
2. Carl Sagan
The renowned astrophysicist Carl Sagan was a passionate advocate for the legalization of marijuana, starting with an essay he wrote under the pseudonym 'Dr. X' which was published in the book *Marihuana Reconsidered*. In this essay, Sagan confessed that he initially thought marijuana's effects were simply a placebo, perhaps intensified by hyperventilation.
After continued use, Sagan came to recognize marijuana’s true effects. He credited it with giving him a fresh perspective, explaining, 'The cannabis experience has greatly improved my appreciation for art, a subject which I had never much appreciated before. The understanding of the intent of the artist which I can achieve when high sometimes carries over to when I’m down. This is one of many human frontiers which cannabis has helped me traverse. There also have been some art-related insights—I don’t know whether they are true or false, but they were fun to formulate.'
1. Steve Jobs
It is widely known that the Apple co-founder, Steve Jobs, had a deep fondness for LSD. He once remarked, 'It was a positive, life-changing experience for me, and I am glad I went through that experience.'
Although LSD is often linked to hippies advocating for peace and love, Jobs himself was known for experiencing intense mood swings. These volatile emotions played a part in his initial departure from Apple in the 1980s when he clashed with CEO John Sculley over the Mac's pricing and marketing strategies. By that time, Jobs had stopped using both LSD and marijuana, so perhaps revisiting those habits would have rekindled the mindset where he felt 'relaxed and creative.' Regardless, Jobs's return to Apple, with or without the influence of LSD, rejuvenated the company and propelled it to its current status as a tech giant.
