Study shows that Pop and Rap cite more
A study published by two scientists from the National Institute on Drug Abuse concluded that Black Sabbath talks less about drugs than current pop artists.
The study's authors, Dr. Kevin Conway and Dr. Patrick McGrain, analyzed 156 Black Sabbath songs and concluded that only 13% are about drugs. Of those, 60% portray drugs in a negative light.
The analysis concludes: “Contrary to the notion that Heavy Metal glorifies and encourages substance abuse, Black Sabbath’s lyrics generally weave a cautionary tale about how persistent drug use can hijack free will, shift the focus of an affected individual, and produce various forms of human misery.”
The study compares the mentions of drugs with the relationship of other genres, saying that Rap and Pop not only talk about drugs much more, but also encourage their use.