[VIDEO] Johnny Crowder: Prescription Medication and Straight Edge

We can’t pretend that prescription drug abuse is uncommon among teenagers; it’s actually one of the easiest ways for young people to get their hands on potent narcotics. As members of the straight edge community, it’s easy to draw a strong line against prescription drug abuse; Drug Free means no prescription drug abuse. But what happens when your doctor diagnoses you with ADD? Or ADHD? Or anxiety, depression, even schizophrenia? Then suddenly the same drugs that your friends might be using to get high, well now you have more pills than your local dealer.

But you’re drug free, right? I mean you’re straight edge, and straight edge means no drugs. Especially not the same Ritalin, Xanax, or Oxycodone pills your friends might be dosing on the weekends. What do you do? Who do you talk to? What if it’s medical marijuana?

You may know Johnny Crowder as the vocalist and front man of Florida metal band Dark Sermon. What you may not know is surprising, he’s also an accomplished stand up comedian, and he was diagnosed at a young age with a host of disorders.

We were very fortunate to catch up with Johnny on his last tour through Toronto to sit down, eat some Korean food, and talk about what it’s like to be straight edge and deal with mental illness.