Stand-up comedians have a reputation for being self-destructive types who often have raging drug habits. Of course, there are many well known actors, singers and musicians who are prone to this weakness as well. But given that there are absolutely fewer comedians, there does seem to be a disproportionately high number of drug abusers among them.

And there have been many famous comics who have actually died of drug overdoses including John Belushi, Chris Farley and Lenny Bruce. A few years ago Mitch Hedberg sadly went the same way, as did Greg Geraldo only just recently.

I've performed stand-up comedy myself, and have seen how prevalent drug use is in the comedy scene. I stayed clear of this trap, but was nonetheless fascinated by the phenomena. And I've often wondered why it occurs.

There are several reasons for it. Firstly, and obviously, comedy is a form of entertainment. Like all entertainment cultures, the comedy scene has a kind of glamor associated with it, along with the possibility of great fame. The performers and the fans are all pleasure seekers. Drugs heighten pleasure, so it's not surprising that you'll find them in this environment.

Then there's the fact that comics are pretty highly strung as a rule -- often borderline neurotic. Driven by deep insecurities, they are constantly seeking approval. They get that through laughter on stage. But when off it, they are still haunted by the same demons, so they often "self medicate" with drugs both legal and illegal.

There's another element related to the one above: Stand-up comics are thrill seekers. Getting up on stage is quite a bold thing to do and fraught with risk. You might "die", after all. While it's not a literal death, there's still a very good reason that term is used to describe the experience. It's not final like the real thing, but it's still traumatic to experience and excruciating to watch.

Comedians court this gruesome fate nightly, and occasionally experience it even when quite established. So, the adrenaline is really pumping when they get up on stage, and they ultimately become adrenaline junkies.

Because of this pressure, standing up in a room full of strangers and getting laughs really is a kind of high. It is addictive in itself. And if comedians are not getting this high -- or if they have just suffered the deep low of a comedy "death" -- they often feel the need to achieve the high again some other way. Hence the abuse of drugs.

There is also the element of alienation. Comedians are looking at society from the outside much of the time; getting material from their unique perspectives. Which is why there is often a rebellious, renegade streak in them. Rebels of one kind tend to cross paths with other rebels. That's how comics often end up mixing with drug users and begin taking drugs themselves.

And there's one major reason that is obvious from drug using comedians' own acts: their drug use gives them material. People do the funniest things when under the influence of drugs, after all. Comics often recall their own behavior while high, or tell stories about things they've seen their drugged-out friends do.

For a lot of comics such observations constitute a big proportion of their material, and are a key part of their on stage personas. That's why they don't want to kick their habits. They'll miss out on all that comedy gold, and the audience won't know who they are! To give up drugs would be to relinquish what brought them their success. Sadly, that's why some keep going with their drug habits even though they know they're slowly killing them.