Inspiration et création artistique en contexte d’usage de psychotropes

Abstract

Apart from the Inuits, who, until the arrival of the ‘white man’, were unable to cultivate plants because of the climate, it can be said that all cultures and human societies used psychotropic substances, and their usage can be considered universal. Although the use of certain psychotropic substances is associated with deviancy, multiple reasons can shed light on the drug phenomenon as a multifactorial reality. Among these reasons we can mention: medical use for health reasons, pleasure and sensorial experience; knowledge and exploration of the self; psychotherapy with LSD 25; war; support for religious practices; creation and artistic inspiration, etc. Through a literature review, this article explores the sociological and anthropological perspective in the field of psychotropic substances and their ties with the process of creativity and artistic inspiration (music, poetry, the arts, etc.). With a constructivist approach, a psychosocial perspective will be enabled to take a hold on certain social and cultural challenges in the context of psychotropic substance use and artistic creation.