There are two ways that you could go about this topic: Drugs influence music or Music influences drugs?
Since the rise of the music industry, it seems like every other artist has to partake in some kind of drug. Whether it is harmless marijuana or harmful cocaine each artist was taking these drugs for some sort of 'creative outlet'. The real question is since the start of the music industry taking over everyone's lives have the executives been feeding artists drugs?
In Mac's case, I strongly believe that the entertainment industry is to blame. Why? Well for one, he was forced to what the executives call 'schmoozing'. 'Schmoozing is basically going to party after party to win the hearts over old folks with lots of money so they can fund you as upcoming artists. Mac has been to plenty of these so-called "parties" at h
start of his career which prompts me to my next point of peer pressure.
To be 'cool' in the industry you have to be doing everyone else is doing whether it is recording similar music to another artist or dabbling in drugs with them behind the scenes. If an artist were to refuse anything from someone higher up it could ruin their chances of recording, being signed or being funded, so how can you say no? you can't?
My Proof to back up what I am saying is from an article titled "HOW THE MUSIC INDUSTRY CONDONES A CULTURE OF EXCESSIVE SUBSTANCE USE" by Nina Posner. According to Nina, “One of the worst ways the music industry continues to be crushed by capitalism is basing payout/talent budget on bar sales for small-scale events, and the ubiquity of liquor sponsorships/deals in major clubs and at most festivals". Which I completely agree with, if the industry didn't want their artist to become addicts or regularly abuse alcohol or drugs, they would find a more appropriate venue or appropriate business to fund their concerts. Like for example instead of Budweiser maybe Pepsi.
Another great quote from Nina's article is "Of course, it’s not merely the job description itself that lends itself to substance use. As much as we’d like to believe otherwise, profit is ultimately what guides the industry; people need to sell records and get booked to keep their jobs and make a living. These capitalist parameters ultimately stress efficiency and productivity over physical and mental health. Taken with the pressures of working in an intentionally cutthroat field, to say nothing of the various pressures of daily life, it can all be incredibly overwhelming." This quote backs up my earlier statement about the peer pressure of the industry.