Abstract

Objectives: Drug abuse increased rapidly during the years 1965 – 1970. This study explores popular music from that period that promoted illicit drug use.

Methods: Songs driving illicit drug use were identified through high popularity ratings, performing musician prominence, and drug message clarity.

Results: Music from the late 1960s contained many references to benefits of using illicit drugs, correlating with their increase in popularity.

Conclusions: Conducive environments promote illicit drug use. Messages from popular songs and musicians correlated with the rapid rise of drug abuse in the late 1960s. Understanding and managing contemporary illicit drug use should include examinations of popular music.

Keywords: Music, drug abuse, drivers of drug abuse, history of drug abuse, drug abuse epidemiology