Judy Garland was treated absolutely shamefully by MGM and she was put on the “Mayer diet” (black coffee and cigarettes) as were many other young performers, but Garland’s mother was the one who started her on uppers and downers so that she could perform numerous shows a day in vaudeville. This continued at MGM and Garland continued this use and struggled all her life with addiction. She was a beautiful talent who was sadly and systematically let down by many people in her life.