Do drugs and art somehow cross paths? Well, if we are to refer to the generations of psychonauts who sought the aid of psychoactive substances (among others) to explore their own minds… then yes.
In fact, artist and poet Bryan Lewis Saunders experimented with different substances to see their effects on him and his artworks. His one-of-a-kind collection of trippy self-portraits is a thought-provoking testament to the issue/risks of drug abuse.
Abilify / Xanax / Ativan (dosage unknown in hospital)
Bryan Lewis Saunders
10mg Adderall
Bryan Lewis Saunders
Ativan / Haloperidol (dosage unknown in hospital)
Bryan Lewis Saunders
Bath Salts
Bryan Lewis Saunders
1/2 gram Cocaine
Bryan Lewis Saunders
2 Bottles of Cough Syrup
Bryan Lewis Saunders
Morphine IV (dosage unknown)
Bryan Lewis Saunders
Huffing Lighter Fluid
Bryan Lewis Saunders
DMT (during and after)
Bryan Lewis Saunders
In his website, Saunders wrote: “After experiencing drastic changes in my environment, I looked for other experiences that might profoundly affect my perception of self. So I devised another experiment where everyday I took a different drug or intoxicant and drew myself under the influence.”
Huffing Gas (during and after)
Bryan Lewis Saunders
1 “Bump” of Crystal Meth
Bryan Lewis Saunders
7.5mg Hydrocodone / 7.5mg Oxycodone / 3mg Xanax
Bryan Lewis Saunders
Valium IV (Albuterol, Saline & Oxygen mixture)
Bryan Lewis Saunders
Khat (chew and tea)
Bryan Lewis Saunders
Marijuana (Kine Bud)
Bryan Lewis Saunders
PCP
Bryan Lewis Saunders
1 Glass of Pruno
Bryan Lewis Saunders
Salvia Divinorum (before and right after)
Bryan Lewis Saunders
2mg Nicotine Gum (after quitting smoking for 2 months)
Bryan Lewis Saunders
3mg Klonopin
Bryan Lewis Saunders
4mg Dilaudid
Bryan Lewis Saunders
4mg Risperdol
Bryan Lewis Saunders
90mg Abilify (after 3 months usage 3x maximum dose)
Bryan Lewis Saunders
250mg Cephalexin (painted w/ watercolor pencil, water and cephalexin)
Bryan Lewis Saunders
10mg Ambien
Bryan Lewis Saunders
Ativan / Haloperidol (dosage unknown in hospital)
Bryan Lewis Saunders
15mg Buspar (snorted)
Bryan Lewis Saunders
4 Butalbitals (dosage unknown)
Bryan Lewis Saunders
Butane Honey Oil
Bryan Lewis Saunders
Computer Duster (2 squirts)
Bryan Lewis Saunders
1 shot of Dilaudid / 3 shots of Morphine (In the ER with kidney stones)
Bryan Lewis Saunders
G13 Marijuana
Bryan Lewis Saunders
60mg Geodon
Bryan Lewis Saunders
Hash
Bryan Lewis Saunders
Heroin (Snorted)
Bryan Lewis Saunders
Valium I.V. (dosage unknown in hospital)
Bryan Lewis Saunders
10mg Lortab
Bryan Lewis Saunders
1 sm Glass of Absinth
Bryan Lewis Saunders
20mg Valium
Bryan Lewis Saunders
Marijuana Resin
Bryan Lewis Saunders
Ritilin (dosage unknown – snorted)
Bryan Lewis Saunders
10mg Zyprexa (after 2 weeks in hospital)
Bryan Lewis Saunders
Nitrous Oxide / Valium I.V. (dosage unknown in hospital)
Bryan Lewis Saunders
Within weeks of taking different substances, Saunders claimed that he became lethargic and that he suffered mild brain damage that luckily was not irreparable.
“I am still conducting this experiment but over greater lapses of time and I only take drugs that are given to me.”
Nitrous Oxide
Bryan Lewis Saunders
100mg Tramadol
Bryan Lewis Saunders
100mg Trazadone
Bryan Lewis Saunders
7.5mg Percocet
Bryan Lewis Saunders
2 Pot Brownies
Bryan Lewis Saunders
25I-NBOMe
Bryan Lewis Saunders
100mg Seroquel
Bryan Lewis Saunders
2mg Xanax
Bryan Lewis Saunders
50mg Zoloft (after 2 weeks)
Bryan Lewis Saunders
Credit: Bryan Lewis Saunders