How could the Journal promote the exhibitions about the use of drugs by University of East Anglia’s Sainsbury, in a section called “Big Picture” as if it was the entire perspective on the addiction issue.(1)
Similarly, the romantic title of the “highs and lows of being a drug user”(1) with a large painting does not fit with the sad reality, e.g. in the case of alcohol, the most prevalent drug it is uncontrolled, thus potentially dangerous, behaviour, followed by hangover on the short term and serious suffering on the long term.
Investigating “why we take drugs” through “artistic production of ceramics” or “four-meter-high sculptures … from agricultural organic materials” (2) is naïve, at best. Simply, people take drugs because these are addictive substances, giving up is a very hard time. Of note, the Italian Renaissance Ceramics in the Metropolitan Museum of Art or the Michel Angelo gallery in the Louvre show artistic productions from those who did not use drugs.
In 2002, when on a tour in the US with the Rolling Stones, Mick Jagger, aged 59, warned “I believe we should encourage children to sing and play instruments from an early age.” He was proactive, having donated $150,000 to provide free instrument training for youngsters at England’s Dartford Grammar School.(3) Sir Michael Jagger, as honoured with a knighthood in the Queen's 2002 Birthday Honours, has been an expert for LSD among many other substances during the 60-70s but gave up in the early 80s for Jerry Hall’s love. I guess he understood he could have been even greater if he had not use drugs.
Rapid Response:
"Highs and lows of drug use": an expert opinion!
Dear Editor
How could the Journal promote the exhibitions about the use of drugs by University of East Anglia’s Sainsbury, in a section called “Big Picture” as if it was the entire perspective on the addiction issue.(1)
Similarly, the romantic title of the “highs and lows of being a drug user”(1) with a large painting does not fit with the sad reality, e.g. in the case of alcohol, the most prevalent drug it is uncontrolled, thus potentially dangerous, behaviour, followed by hangover on the short term and serious suffering on the long term.
Investigating “why we take drugs” through “artistic production of ceramics” or “four-meter-high sculptures … from agricultural organic materials” (2) is naïve, at best. Simply, people take drugs because these are addictive substances, giving up is a very hard time. Of note, the Italian Renaissance Ceramics in the Metropolitan Museum of Art or the Michel Angelo gallery in the Louvre show artistic productions from those who did not use drugs.
In 2002, when on a tour in the US with the Rolling Stones, Mick Jagger, aged 59, warned “I believe we should encourage children to sing and play instruments from an early age.” He was proactive, having donated $150,000 to provide free instrument training for youngsters at England’s Dartford Grammar School.(3) Sir Michael Jagger, as honoured with a knighthood in the Queen's 2002 Birthday Honours, has been an expert for LSD among many other substances during the 60-70s but gave up in the early 80s for Jerry Hall’s love. I guess he understood he could have been even greater if he had not use drugs.
References
1. Shepherd A. Highs and lows of being a drug user. BMJ. 2024;386:q1975. Published 2024 Sep 11. doi:10.1136/bmj.q1975
2. https://www.sainsburycentre.ac.uk/whats-on/why-do-we-take-drugs
3. Associated Press. Major Gifts From Gordon Parks, Mick Jagger. Los Angeles Times 9 October 2002. https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2002-oct-09-et-f6filler9-story.html
Competing interests: No competing interests