Music and the Misuse of Substances
We know that music is strongly connected to our emotions. What hasn’t been studied as extensively is the link between music, emotions, and the misuse of substances. However, one study that was conducted in Queensland, Australia did look into this link. The researchers started by giving a questionnaire to a total of 38 individuals. Half of the participants were residence from a substance abuse treatment facility, and the other half were the control group, consisting of healthy individuals. In the survey, the participants were asked to name two songs, one that made them want to use a substance and another that made them want to stay clean. Later in the study, participants were requested to rate the level of intensity that best described their craving.
The second part of the study introduced music into the equation. Participants were made to listen to three pieces of music (all classical). The songs were shown to elicit one primary emotion per song, happiness, sadness, and peace. The interesting thing is that individuals in the control group had a drastically higher response to the music that elicited happiness than participants in the treatment group. Participants in the treatment group, on the other hand, rated the song that elicited sadness as being more pleasant than the participants in the control group.
While the results of the study are interesting and could tell us a lot about the differences in the mind and perception of others. Unfortunately, levels of depression were not taken into account, nor was a measure for it present in the questionnaire. However, the treatment group was shown to have higher levels of depression and suicidal thought, which may have impacted their responses.
Ultimately more research is needed before anything conclusive can truly be stated. Perhaps music can be a useful tool in helping people overcome substance abuse and dependence.