How did drug use contribute to Charles Manson’s control over his followers?

Charles Manson utilized drug use as a primary tool to exert control over his followers, alongside constant abuse and psychological manipulation. By encouraging the heavy consumption of recreational drugs—specifically LSD—Manson fostered an environment that some believed helped him maintain authority over the group.12

This drug use was integrated into the daily life of the Manson Family, which lived communally and engaged in activities such as drug-fueled orgies. By promoting these substances, Manson deepened the dependency and devotion of his followers, many of whom were young, vulnerable runaways seeking a sense of belonging. This systematic exploitation was part of a broader pattern of control that included sexual abuse and the enforcement of his idiosyncratic, apocalyptic philosophy, ultimately leading his followers to commit acts of extreme violence under his direction.1