Drugs have always been a constant in the music industry, but its effects are ever-lasting (Image via Instagram) While the openness about mental health is great, I cannot help but think there has got to be a way to admit to addiction and struggles, without the current glamorization of drug use. Neither of these artists just think up these issues for their music, they have admitted and/or been caught using drugs, and so many more in the industry are doing the same. Blackbear raps about “popping pills like skittles” and posts photos on Instagram with prescription bottles of hydrocodone whilst the more mainstream artist, The Weeknd, first rose to fame through his hit song “Wicked Games” where he sings “bring the drugs, baby, I can bring my pain.” Artists, such as Blackbear and The Weeknd, have lyrics referencing the use of drugs to cure sadness. He is not the only one in the industry who promoted the use of drugs and openly discussed mental health problems. It was evident he used drugs and alcohol as a way to cope with his serious mental health issues. Lil Peep’s story is exceptionally tragic because he was not merely using drugs for recreation: he had a problem. In an industry that seems to romanticize the abuse of drugs, you have to wonder how many young listeners they are influencing and how many deaths they are potentially adding to this statistic.
The main drug involved with overdoses is opioids, such as fentanyl and oxycodone. According to John Hopkins researchers, “deaths from drug overdoses in the United States rose from about 52,000 in 2015 to more than 64,000 in 2016,” and this number will certainly rise again for 2017. The toxicology report is still needed to confirm the true cause of death, but it’s clear that prescription pills were involved. Originally the suspected culprit for Lil Peep’s death was Xanax, but now there is some investigation into the opioid by the name of fentanyl. It was apparent to many that Lil Peep was at battle with himself and the inner workings of his mind, and sadly he did not win. I was not the only one who believed this news. The main drug ’Peep referenced in music and social media was the antidepressant, and highly abused prescription, Xanax.Ĭhris Ortega, Lil Peep’s manager, was the first inside source to confirm ‘Peep’s death: ‘I’ve been expecting this call for a year. I realized it was just myself-it’s a chemical imbalance in my brain.” In this same interview he stated that was not treated for his depression, instead he smoked weed and did whatever drugs he stumbled upon. That was part of why I moved to California, trying to get away from the place that was doing that to me, and the people I was around. In an interview this past January with Pitchfork, Lil Peep put on the record that he does indeed struggle with his mental health: “I suffer from depression and some days I wake up and I’m like, Fuck, I wish I didn’t wake up. These themes were not solely for Lil Peep’s artistic persona as the artist was open about his suicidal thoughts, depression and abuse of drugs and alcohol. Songs, such as “Better Off (Dying)” and “Girls” both have lyrics which discuss wanting to die and using drugs. The subject matter of his music was dark and heavy with strong themes of mental health and substance abuse. Shining a Light on Shein’s Unethical Labor Practices
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