Esteemed satirist Kwaku Sintim Misa, popularly known as KSM, has cautioned fellow creatives against the allure of drug use as a source of creative inspiration.
Emphasising the dangers of dependency on substances for artistic stimulation, KSM shared insights based on his own experiences and observations within the creative industry.
KSM acknowledged the initial appeal of drugs in sparking wild creative ideas but highlighted the detrimental effects of relying on such substances.
He emphasized the importance of tapping into one’s natural abilities and allowing time for genuine creativity to flourish, rather than seeking instant gratification through drugs.
“When you get on any drug, it can give you some amazing energy and some creative geniuses that can give you the boost. However, trust me, if you rely on the natural, and you give yourself enough time, you’ll be amazed at what you can accomplish. The deception is that that one gives you an immediate thing that you can do, and you think this is the way out. But the more you do it, the more you destroy that capacity. So you can be the greatest creative and everything but later on you realize that it brings you down again, very, very fast. So my advice is, don’t depend on any external high to get creative because it will give you just the boost but you can’t depend on that boost,” KSM stated.
Reflecting on his past experimentation with drugs to enhance creativity, KSM admitted that while it initially seemed promising with a surge of imaginative concepts, the eventual realization was that these ideas were unsustainable and often misguided.
“I did it to see how best it can help me to be creative and the ideas that I got were all very wild and to me wow ‘this thing is amazing, it can give you ideas and things’. But then once it starts dying down then you realize these are not wild ideas, these were stupid things. But at that time you don’t care. For me it doesn’t work.”
He advocated for a ‘natural high,’ suggesting that creatives who stay true to their innate talents and avoid artificial stimulants tend to achieve greater success and longevity in their careers.
This eye-opening discussion took place as part of a new Joy News documentary titled ‘Creative Addictions,’ produced by Joy FM journalist Kwame Dadzie.
The documentary delves into the struggles faced by creatives caught in the grip of addiction and features insights from psychiatric experts on potential interventions to support recovery.
Catch ‘Creative Addictions’ tonight on Joy News at 8:30 pm and tune in to the Super Morning Show on Joy FM tomorrow for further coverage.
The documentary will also be broadcasted on Joy Prime tomorrow at 8:30 am, offering valuable perspectives on a critical issue within the creative community.