Today we look at how alcohol and drugs fail to improve your creativity - despite popular and mass media marketing to the contrary (yes, this includes your precious "micro-dosing" miracle cures - sorry. These substances may make you think they make you more creative but that's wishful thinking. (And if you're wondering about Byron and Hemingway and Hunter S Thompson - don't be fooled by survivor bias! - And don't forget it wasn't the alcohol flowing but the company of strangers that made pre prohibition America more innovative than mid-prohibition America.)
As for what does make you more creative and productive? Go travel! Or take up some exercise! So have a conversation with a stranger.
What are your personal thoughts and experiences using mind altering substances for creativity or productivity? (Do you agree with the research based on personal experience, or no?)
What other ways are we fooling ourselves with survivor bias?
Read more:
Sober creativity : https://www.theguardian.com/science/2023/mar/24/drugs-and-alcohol-do-not-make-you-more-creative-research-finds
Survivorship bias : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Survivorship_bias
Look, if you want to take drugs, just do them, don’t try tell us it’s for “work” : https://www.forbes.com/sites/jackkelly/2020/01/17/silicon-valley-is-micro-dosing-magic-mushrooms-to-boost-their-careers/?sh=757407795822
The olds are not always right : https://www.fluxtrends.com/teetotalism-why-generation-z-is-choosing-good-clean-fun/ / https://www.vogue.com.au/beauty/wellbeing/why-the-teetotalism-trend-is-here-to-stay/image-gallery/1a841ea047dfbabad22eae3323206e1d
Why prohibition made America less innovative and creative :
Don't do drugs, kids