You may have heard many stories about famous artists and the methods to their madness. Some of them have become the most talented and famous of their time. They put in the work throughout the day, but would indulge in the dark world of drug addiction later on.

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Let’s take a look at seven famous artists and their drug addiction. These examples may surprise you (or may not if you are familiar with them). Let’s begin:

Vincent Van Gogh’s “hallucinogenic drink” of choice

The Dutch painter created many beautiful art pieces including the world famous ‘Starry Night’. However, behind his mind, he was dealing with mental illness and was physically ill most of the time. One of the substances he used to cope with life’s challenges was absinthe, an alcoholic drink with known hallucinogenic properties.

It has also been rumored that he mixed absinthe along with the other chemicals and paints he put together on the canvases he used. Some may say that van Gogh may have painted brilliant works while intoxicated. But his brother was believed to have said that this wasn’t the case.

Thomas Kincade’s tragic mix with drugs and alcohol

Thomas Kincade was one of the more famous modern artists. His artworks were mostly fixtures in many American homes. However, he suffered a substance abuse issue that would lead to his death in 2012.

At the time of his death, Kincade had alcohol and diazepam in his system. While benzodiazepines do not cause death by itself, the mix of alcohol makes it a deadly combination and thus leading to an unfortunate end for a talented artist. His family believed that it was something that he should have controlled, but didn’t have the chance to do so.

Andy Warhol The Hoarder

Andy Warhol’s art work is perhaps the most recognizable, given the colors that he uses. Plus, it’s easy to spot something that belongs to him because of a certain style he had. Warhol’s drug abuse saga began in the early 1960s.

He was diagnosed with a diet pill known as Obetrol, which was believed to be the predecessor of Adderall. The stimulant was believed to have the same properties as the drug ‘Speed’. The drug itself was believed to enhance Warhol’s artistic abilities.

However, Warhol had dealt with another issue that he dealt with. He was known for being a hoarder, keeping everything from postage stamps, fliers for local grocery stores, even pizza dough among other things. Not only that, Warhol was also dealing with mental health issues, which may have led him to use other drugs in the process.

The abuse of prescription drugs can take a toll on someone mentally and physically. Even for an artist like Warhol. His passing from surgical complications in 1987 was untimely and may have been hastened by his past drug use.

Jackson Pollack’s troubled life

Known for his avant-garde style, Pollock had a troubled life that began in his childhood. His father was an alcoholic and left the family when young Jackson was 8 years old. He faced a series of mental issues including schizophrenia and depression.

Because of this, Pollack himself relied on alcohol to help him cope. Yet, his alcoholism would lead to frequent outbursts. One of them led to his death on August 11, 1956.

While driving with two female passengers, he was already drunk and enraged. He crashed his car ultimately killing one of them and himself included. He was 44 years old.

Natalie Cole’s unforgettable battle with drugs

The daughter of the legendary Nat King Cole was an accomplished musician in her own right. However, she disclosed her struggle with drugs in her autobiography that was released in 2000. She was addicted to heroin and crack cocaine.

She also had faced several medical issues including hepatitis C and kidney disease. Despite her battle with poor health, she tried her best to continue on her legacy as a musician. She fell ill in December 2015 leading to the cancellation of many events featuring her.

She would die at the age of 65 on New Year’s Eve from heart failure.

Louis Armstrong’s ‘not so wonderful’ marijuana arrest

While Satchmo played the trumpet like a legend, he may have been fond of marijuana. It was a drug of choice among jazz musicians as far back as the 1920s and 1930s. While Armstrong may not have dealt with an addiction, he did get arrested for drug possession in 1931.

Ray Charles avoiding prison despite possession charge

Ray Charles was a legendary singer that would wow the crowds despite having no eyesight. But what you may not have noticed is that he has avoided prison time on multiple occasions. While possessing heroin seems like a serious offense, he was busted for it several times.

How he managed to avoid jail time is beyond us. Especially when heroin may be a more potent drug compared to marijuana, meth, and others. Charles had been addicted to heroin as early as the 1940s but managed to kick the habit years later after one of his many arrests.

Final Thoughts

The seven artists (both in art and music) have battled their addictions. Some of them had lost their lives due to it. Others have found help, but have suffered from the after effects years later.

Addiction can affect anyone, regardless if they are your next door neighbor or someone you see on TV, the Internet, or any other media outlet. It’s something that will tear lives apart, affect someone’s health, and even end their life in the blink of an eye. Regardless, anyone with an addiction issue will need to get the help they deserve.