Chris De Banks: 90s Drug Culture, Heroin & Music - Sobriety for Creatives

In this episode of Believe in People: Addiction, Recovery & Stigma, Matt speaks with Chris De Banks, founder of Not Saints - the UK’s only not-for-profit record label dedicated to supporting musicians in recovery. Through Chris’s lived experience, we explore the powerful intersection of music, addiction and sobriety, and the realities of navigating creative life without substances.Chris reflects on his early experiences in the drug-fuelled 90s music scene, how substance use became normalised, and the point where creativity and chaos began to collide. He shares his journey through addiction and recovery, the turning points that helped him rebuild, and how Not Saints emerged as a platform to amplify sober artists, challenge stigma, and provide genuine community in an industry often dominated by alcohol and drug culture.Together, Matt and Chris dismantle the myths that link creativity with substance use, discuss the glamorisation of addiction in pop culture, and highlight how storytelling, sober events and authentic expression can reshape what artistic identity looks like in recovery.This is an inspiring conversation about purpose, second chances, and building spaces where creativity thrives without cost to wellbeing.In this episode:The drug-fuelled 90s music scene and early addictionHow recovery reshaped Chris’s relationship with creativityFounding Not Saints and building a sober creative communityThe myth of “needing substances to create”Stigma, pop culture and the glamorisation of addictionSober events, storytelling and empowering artists in recoveryWhy purpose, routine and connection sustain long-term sobrietySearch terms: addiction recovery podcast UK, musicians in recovery, sober music community, lived experience stories, trauma and recovery, substance misuse, creativity and sobriety.#believeinpeople #believeinpeoplepodcast #believeinpeopleextraClick here to text our host, Matt, directly!🎧  If this episode connected with you, please subscribe and review. It directly helps us reach more people affected by addiction, trauma and stigma. 🔗 Then share this episode with someone who needs to hear it!Browse the full archive at 👉 www.believeinpeoplepodcast.com Believe in People is a platform for lived experience, recovery insight and honest conversation. Whether you’re in recovery, supporting someone who is, or working on the frontline, this podcast exists to inform, challenge stigma and inspire change.If you or someone you know needs support with drugs, alcohol, housing, domestic abuse, or mental and physical wellbeing, free and confidential help is available via Change Grow Live:📩 Contact: [email protected]🎵 Music: “Jonathan Tortoise” - Christopher Tait (Belle Ghoul / Electric Six)Listen & Subscribe:Spotify | Apple Podcasts🎙️ Facilitator: Matthew Butler 🎛️ Producer: Robbie Lawson 🏢 Network: ReNew