Laughter is the Best Medicine: Comedians on Codeine
There is a disturbing number of comedians addicted to various drugs. Some of the most popular are opiates. The reason for this is incredibly disturbing. Throughout the past century, we’ve lost countless comedians to suicide and drug overdose, sometimes combined. The most recent, and arguably one of the most prominent was Robin Williams, who killed himself after a long life suffering with an alcohol addiction.
Comedians across the board have been using addiction and drug abuse as a source of comedy for decades. David Cross, in one of his stand up videos, poked fun at the uselessness of shows like Intervention. When the show would tell the tragic tale of Jane Doe becoming addicted to painkillers, Cross would excitedly remember, “That’s right! I have Vicadin!” This earns a hearty response from the audience. Is this not something to be disturbed by, rather than entertained? Why can a mass audience relate to the casual discussion of addiction?
Many speculate that drug use is so common among comedians because of the high rates of depression within the industry. This also brings up another unsettling question: Why are the funny people so depressed? Does this say something about the audience, that we can identify with this comedian? There is a quote form Friedrich Nietzsche that reads, “I know best why it is man alone who laughs; he alone suffers so deeply that he had to invent laughter.” This certainly seems the case for Robin Williams. It’s difficult not to be affected by his tragic passing. There is also research that suggests that people who are depressed are more realistic about life. Though that seems incredibly pessimistic, perhaps there’s some truth to it.
Opiates are extremely popular among comedians because they are what we colloquially refer to as “uppers.” That is, they’re mood-boosters. Happiness in a drug, that grants temporary relief from suffering. Apparently we as the audience can relate. It’s not uncommon for many people to experiment with drugs, especially as a coping mechanism. It seems initially disturbing that a wide audience can relate, but perhaps this brings light another issue: the negative stigma and lack of awareness of depression. According to the ADAA, 18% of U.S Americans age 18 or older are diagnosed with some form of an anxiety disorder, often encompassing depression. The concern for comedians likely stems from a lack of discussion around the disorder. It might even be beneficial for researchers to examine how drug abuse relates to a lack of discussion of mental illness in the world of comedy.
