Introduction
Many prominent musicians have relied on substances in the process of making great songs and compositions. However, it is highly debatable whether these practices are worthy of benefits. In the article presented by Ultimate Guitar, LSD use is explored from the perspective of an advantage, stating the impact it had on the music in the 1960s. However, comments under the article spark the discussion on whether LSD is as beneficial as the report states. This paper examines the comment section related to the article, involving positive and negative aspects of drug use, exploring the extent to which substances may be used and the consequences of consumption.
Positive Sides of LSD Use
As one of the commenters stated under the nickname ATL_420, some of the great songs were written by him under the influence of acid. He says that he has been the most talented at times when he was using LSD. In this circumstance, it would be crucial for his band manager to provide him with the drug to play well and create great songs. Therefore, the manager decided to supply ATL_420 with as much LSD as needed at times when he was at the recording studio. That way, no conflict was generated, the manager did not raise questions about the musician’s health, and their partnership has gone well as long as it lasted.
Moderation Aspect
The other commenter under the nickname of Strat_Monkey stated that despite drugs can be beneficial for the creation of solid compositions, they can also harm people significantly if not used under moderation. According to the utilitarian ethical theory, restraint in drug use could be defined by the subscribers as “keep doing it until it gives you benefit.” Therefore, as long as the drug starts harming the person more significantly than helping – the use should be stopped. However, the fear from the standpoint of this theory might be the measuring of moderate amounts. It is difficult to analyze how much is too much, especially for the person under the influence.
Negative Sides of LSD Use
The commenter Ramco shared the view concerning the harmful factor of LSD use and stated that the encouragement of drug use is terrible. LSD is a fungus that degenerates the brain stem and stays there for a long time after use. This may cause “acid flashbacks” to occur in later years of life without substance use. LSD has proven to have the most long-lasting effects of all drugs, excluding heroin. According to the comment author, the music written under the influence of drugs is not exceptional and can only be appreciated by those using it. The use of LSD is also illegal and should not be advertised.
Where to Draw the Line?
There are contradicting opinions on drug use, and there is a need to evaluate the positive and negative impacts of writing music under the influence. The extraordinary compositions were produced by musicians that used LSD; however, they also suffered harsh consequences for their choice. Personal safety is a crucial factor in every human’s existence. The willingness to be healthy and function well is a typical component of a person’s life. However, with the appearance of ethical needs, such as art and music, people started needing more than just that. Care for innovative and outstanding music compositions prevailed the basic human need for safety, which should not be forgotten. Thus, everything used to create art should not put the artist himself in danger.
“Do Not Ask Do Not Tell” Approach
Some music companies tend to deal with the drug issue in the following way – they implement a “do not ask, do not tell” strategy. Such an approach implies that drug use will not be encouraged or forced onto musicians; however, the testing for drug use will also not be present. Company executives most likely choose this approach because of their willingness to avoid conflicts with artists under the influence and, at the same time, avoid being notorious for drug use encouragement. Thus, a clear ethical advantage of such a method would be that companies will not interfere with a musician’s personal life and instead focus on their production values. However, the disadvantage of this policy is that drug use is illegal. Even though the encouragement of use is absent, the testing is missing too, which means it is not regulated well enough. Therefore, such a policy should not be considered an ultimate solution for LSD use in the music industry.
Ethical Aspects of Drug Use
The other effects that drugs have on people have been discovered, and it is debatable whether their use is ethical. One of the commenters, korarsosar, writes about some hallucinogenic drug that caused his girlfriend to have unusual behavior: running around the house and pretending to fly like a bird. The side effects that are harmless from the standpoint of health conditions may be debatable from the perspective of the appearance of such. The human being as a social creature is viewed as conscious and aware of his actions. If awareness is taken away, this quality vanishes and makes the person appear unconscious and disadvantaged. Therefore, it is not ethically correct to consume drugs that cause people to behave strangely.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the positive and negative effects of LSD use have been explored in this paper. Positive effects include creativity, lack of conflict in the organization, and adverse effects include health issues and dangerous outcomes. However, the extent to which it is ethical to use drugs remains under-researched, as it is a complex problem that requires an in-depth solution. Therefore, the possible risks should be evaluated before substance use.