Drug Use

[Billy Castillo]

Question: Was Daniel's drug use limited to weed & acid, or did he also use other drugs? I think the acid is what seriously messed him up (and whomever gave it to him should be severely beaten), but just curious if he also did anything else.

Also, is he 100% clean now? I'd imagine so, but that line in "Rock This Town" makes me wonder...

[jetflock]

Interesting question. I have no idea for sure, and nobody has responded to this question yet, but If I took an educated guess, I would think just weed and acid. Coccaine and heroin would prolly have killed him-or lead him to EVEN MORE destruction(especially if he mixed drugs).
he prolly still smokes weed, just because everyone and they're grandma does anyway.lol.

[OhJoy]

...and my guess is no he's not smoking weed.
Just a guess being it seems like he might like to stay alive and healthy.

[fredericka]

Isn't there a scene in his movie wherein he is shown, in present day, smoking pot?

[Mad Syd]

AAAAAAGGGHHHH! Drug use does not necessarily preddate a person being manic depressive aka bipolar, rather it is a pre-existing condition of chemical imbalances that impels a person to SELF-MEDICATE, with ..drink, drugs....whatever just to be able to COPE
at all............i hate lithium, I would rather self-medicate and keep the creativity!
a bit of grass never hurt anyone......but i have gone a bit further...heroin,sedatives,
painkillers,valium,xanax,and the wonderful world of alchohol!



I'd rather have a bottle in front of me than a frontal lobotomy!

[Rusted Square]

I have done my share of drugs all kinds! I find that weed is the most normal of all if you can even say that. 

[ondafritz]

As far as I know Daniel uses no illegal substances. Believe me, I have had to carry his meds around for a few days and what he takes by prescription from doctors is quite enough. Although I can tell you he smokes Winstons and that may be what you saw in the documentary. I think I still have a pack in my kitchen junk drawer from when he was here a few years ago.

[Psychotic State]

There was a diagnosis used a lot back in the late 70's - early 80's called "stimulant induced psychosis vs. pshychosis" (or "schizophrenia/bipolar"). Maybe it's still used elsewhere. Like I said in another thread they change these mental health diagnoses all the time. They use to admit people for "suspiciousness of charachter" at the peak of the asylum days We've come a long way... but there's miles left ahead!

Drugs certainly don't cause the brain disorders but they can trigger them in early adulthood... and worsten them for people already showing symptoms.

[trashsong]

Just an observation from my own experiences with mental illness and drugs: I began suffering from depression in my late teens, before I'd ever tried drugs. I was noticeably "odd" but I kept my symptoms hidden well enough that even my parents didn't notice anything wrong. I indulged in self-damaging (but not suicidal) behaviors like cutting and burning my skin, I was withdrawn but never violent. Then in my early twenties I got into drugs and began acting out a lot more until I was eventually hospitalized for self-damaging behavior and diagnosed with a bunch of things I don't completely believe, including Bipolar Disorder. Now I have been out of hospitals and off meds for two years. I've been trying to figure out exactly what happened to me. Was I really sick or just crazy from all the drugs? I don't know for sure, but my thoughts are like this: recreational drugs can only exacerbate a preexisting mental illness.

[unvinyl]

that's an interesting point to say that the acid is what really sent him over the edge.  i had a friend in high school who freaked out pretty hard on acid.  they sent him to a mental hospital and when he got out...well...he never came back mentally. 
as far as the film, it doesn't show any use of daniel using drugs now.  but it does show his pack of KOOL's, not winstons.  maybe he's changed since the film.  who knows.
good point on the acid though.

[gregbatchelder]

You are right on Mad Syd. I am an early-onset bipolar person. Many of us "self-medicate" to attempt to alleviate symptoms. Daniel's experience with drugs did nothing to worsen his condition. Please don't fall into the trap of blaming premorbid neurotransmitter imbalances on recreational drug use. And yes, pot is so much easier on the system than lithium. Daniel is bipolar, if you want to understand what that means, I suggest you read up on it. Peace, greg

[ItsHardToFindAFriend]

Isn't there a scene in his movie wherein he is shown, in present day, smoking pot?

Im pretty sure the scene your talking about is young daniel. smoking a bong. I agree with everyone else that current day daniel doesnt do that kind of stuff anymore.


And about Drug use leading to mental-instability.... i heard from alot of people (though ive actually never done the research for myselg) that if you use acid over 3 times your considered legally insane in certain states.

[poddel]

well acid is known to mimick phsycosis rather well, altough there still might be some differences from the "real ones", eventually can it reveal a latent one in disposed persons. I dont care really, life can be a place for suffering. Trying to cope with it humans develop a lot of different behaviors, some understandable some more hard to understand.
i have seen it among people i know those who got lost on acid..and sadly never came back...and i saw several others who came back into the strange field we use to call "normal"....

My reflection is that "normality" is a quite stupid brand tp put people in.
Its about understand reality, and in creativity all these stuff not valid anymore