Art is comprised of a wide variety of people that can fall under the title of “artist.”

People such as sketch artists, sculptors, architects, painters, writers, dancers, and musicians can all be considered knowledgeable in “Art.”

Art is a subject of creativity; creativity is then a subject of personal influences.

These influences can come in different forms such as mental visions, life experiences, emotional relations, or even drugs.

With the negative outlook society has on drugs, can art influenced by drugs be positive?

Alejo Torres, a dance student at Cerritos College states, “I believe they use drugs as a way out, like a stress reliever.”

While drugs have the notorious tendency of “relieving stress” and relaxing the user, Roy Anderson, a guitarist and music student at Cerritos College opposes the use,  “I think the use of drugs as far as art goes is overrated.

“I don’t think you actually need the drugs to facilitate any expansion…when you come off the drugs, it’s like they lost their creative edge,” he added.

Both students have a true side to their own opinion.

History has drawn fact that artists using drugs can produce amazing work.

Artists such as Pablo Picasso, Vincent Van Gogh, Edgar Allen Poe, Stephen King, Kurt Cobain, Jimi Hendrix and many more have all practiced the use of drugs and have all been praised for their contribution to art.

Noemi Rodriguez, a music student adds, “I do think that a lot of people get influenced or get inspired when they’re under the influence of any type of drug.

“I know a couple friends that usually tell me they can’t write certain pieces of poems or music unless they’re under the influence of whether its marijuana or any type of drug, so I do believe that,” Rodriguez said.

On the opposite end Paola Guerrero, another dancer at Cerritos College, states, “They’re actually depending on drugs to use their creativity.”

It’s like athletes using steroids to be better in sports…they actually think they are not good enough and they depend on drugs to be creative and it’s just being fake to themselves,” she added.

Four students have evened out the question as to whether art is better off drugs.

Nelson Leal, Artists’ Society President, had his own opinion as well.

Leal says, “It could be a benefit and a bad thing. It could be distracting when you’re trying to create something. It depends also what you’re creating.”

“I’ve heard it could also be inspirational and it could influence you’re creativity in a way,” Leal concluded.

Whether drugs is healthy for art’s practice or not, in the end the artist may only know while the observer can be the judge.