Battling the Shadow : Singers and Substance Abuse
Singers are unique in the music world in that our own bodies are our instruments. Whatever affects our physical, mental, or emotional states can affect our instruments—and some of the most profound and insidious effects can take hold with the things we put into our bodies, especially alcohol, cigarette smoke, and recreational drugs. When does the use of these substances become abuse? How does substance abuse really affect our instruments, our bodies, and our lives? CS readers weigh in.