Fiction Blog Post #2

Compare and contrast Lucy and the hitchhiker. How are they affected by Thompson and the attorney?

Lucy and the hitchhiker are similar in many ways, yet different as well. Lucy and the hitchhiker are similar in the fact that they are both innocent individuals who experience a loss of innocence, resulting from their experience with the attorney and Thompson. In the end, both of their encounters lead to them being stranded. The attorney tells Thompson about his experience with Lucy. "'Jesus, she's a religious freak. She's running away from home for something like the fifth time in six months. It's terrible. I gave her the cap before I realized... she's never even had a drink!"'(114). Lucy is a virtuous Christian girl, who runs away from her home in Montana to Las Vegas. While on the airplane there, Lucy meets the attorney who gives her LSD. Lucy becomes extremely high and out of it from the drug. She experiences new feelings, such as aggresion and confusion. The attorney takes her back to his hotel and sexually abuses her. After realizing that the attorney could be imprisoned for this, they dump Lucy at a different hotel. She is still in a drug induced state when she is left stranded in a place she doesn't know.
The hitchhiker is looking for a ride, and is at first excited when he sees Thompson and the attorney pull up to him in their red convertible. Once the hitchhiker starts driving with them, his emotions quickly change. He is offered numerous drugs by Thompson and the attorney but refuses them. He witnesses Thompson and the attorney take numerous drugs, along with hearing their vivid hallucinations. He is scared for his life, as they speed down the highway at over 100 miles per hour. The hitchhiker observes first hand the very serious side effects of drugs he never knew existed or were even possible. To escape, he jumps out of the car and runs off, in the middle of the desert. Although it is similar that the hitchhiker and Lucy are both stranded, the hitchhiker consciously decides to flee, whereas Lucy is unable to think for herself. The main difference between the two individuals is that Lucy actually takes a dangerous drug, while the hitchhiker just witnesses others taking drugs. Both have experienced a dangerous life altering encounter with Thompson and the attorney.

Lucy from Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas

Essential Question: Should drug addiction be classified as a mental illness?

Claim: Drug addiction should be classified as a mental illness.

Jenny Reason: The mental side effects of drug addiction are similar to those of a mental disorder. Numerous drugs have lasting precussions parallel to those of a mental disorder. For example, Schizophrenia is a very serious mental disease that causes the individual to feel like someone is out to get them much like the parranoia that some drug users experience. Also, drug addiction can intensify the symptoms that the user already possesses from a mental illness.

Bridget Reason: The addict chooses whether or not they seek and obey treatment. Just as most medical diseases are treated, drug addiction can be treated with varying degrees of success. At a certain point in  addiction the addict can no longer control their desires for substances, and they need treatment. This is similar to classified medical illnesses, in that, the victim has no control of the situation and must turn to treatment. Both the addict and the medical patient cannot get better unless they follow the orders of an expert and even then, the treatment may not always work. The fact of the matter is that though the addict may have fallen into addiction on their own accord, at a certain point they are helpless and need to turn to treatment to heal. Both situations and be terminal and life-ending if treatment is not sought.

Various drugs that lead to addiction

Fiction Blog Post #1

Evaluate the danger of abusing drugs.

It is extremely dangerous to abuse drugs. Abusing drugs not only affects the drug user physically and mentally, but also those around the user. In the novel, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, Thompson and his attorney drive to Las Vegas to cover the Mint 400. They constantly take numerous amounts of drugs; putting themselves and others in grave danger. "We had two bags of grass, seventy-five pellets of mescaline, five sheets of high-powered blotter acid, a salt shaker half full of cocaine, and a whole galaxy of multi-colored uppers, downers, screamers, laughers...Not that we needed all that for the trip, but once you get locked into a serious drug collection, the tendency is to push it as far as you can"(4). Thompson and the attorney are in a world controlled by drugs. They buy as many drugs as they physically can. This is extremely dangerous, because they are mixing strong drugs every hour or so. Through their drug abuse, they experience numerous mental problems. They experience very vivid and strong hallucinations, such as humans becoming giant lizards. Paranoia also greatly affects them and they believe everyone is out to get them. The attorney also goes through a time where he wants to commit suicide, but Thompson helps him through it. Drug abuse not only is a danger to the user, but also the community. Thompson and his attorney drive throughout Las Vegas while they are extremely high, going at crazy speeds while having trouble focusing. This is dangerous to all other drivers and pedestrians. They also experience physical symptoms from their drug abuse, ranging from their bodies hurting to physically craving the drugs. Drug abuse is a serious problem in our country and throughout the world. It can lead to serious physical and mental health issues. Numerous individuals take drugs once and are forever addicted. Once an individual is addicted to drugs, they will spiral down into a world controlled by drugs. A drug user might start off with a drug like marijuana, but then to increase their high, begin using drugs like cocaine and meth. Abuse may develop from sporatic drug use to daily use, or even worse, every few hours.

Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas by Hunter S. Thompson

Drug Survey Response

The survey was taken by 11 people. When asked "who suffers the most from drug abuse" 64% said the addict, 36% said the family, and nobody answered society or the addict's spouse or partner. In response to what they thought was the most prevalent drug in high schools, 45% said marijuana,  9% said ecstasy, 36% responded alcohol, and 9% said cocaine. Third, when asked if drug addiction should be a mental disease, 64% of the people said yes, and 36% said no. Responding to the question of what effect of drug use is the worst, 9% that took the poll said physical, 55% said mental, 27% replied social, and 9% answered emotional. In the final question, people said if they found out a friend was addicted to drugs, 9% said they would do nothing, 55% said they would tell an adult, 18% responded that they would advise their friend to stop, and the final 18% said they would join their friend. The results show an interesting trend, with the majority of votes going to answers that label addiction as a mental illness outside the control of the addict. In addition, according to the survey, a stereotypical user of drugs within high school mainly has access to marijuana and alcohol, and any addiction would require assistance of an adult to intervene and help resolve the mental problems that result from addiction.

Drug Survey

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We All Fall Down Chapters 24-30 Summary

In Chapters 24-30, of Nic Sheff's memoir, We All Fall Down, Nic details his journey through his re-addiction to alcohol and cocaine. Although Nic feels he has overcome his addiction, he continues to smoke weed. At the beginning of this section, Nic is constantly drinking alcohol. He describes hiding bottles around his house so his girlfriend will not know how much he is drinking. After remaining sober from hard drugs, Nic falls back into his past habits, using cocaine. This causes Nic to reach his lowest point, where he fantasizes about suicide. He nearly goes through with it, but overcomes these thoughts and vows to end his addictions. Nic pours out all his hidden alcohol bottles and cocaine. He painfully becomes clean from drugs on his own, after struggling through five days of tough withdrawal symptoms. While out getting coffee, Nic is asked to take a stray dog to the Humane Society. He realizes the dog would be put down, so decides to keep him. Shortly after, Nic finishes his first memoir, around the same time his dad finishes his. Nic and his dad go on tour for their books, where Nic is greatly admired and appreciated.

Nic Sheff and his father, David Sheff, on tour for their memoirs

Sheff, Nic. We All Fall Down: Living with Addiction. New York: Little, Brown, 2011. Print.

We All Fall Down Chapters 9-16 Summary

In Chapters 9-16, of Nic Sheff's memoir, We All Fall Down, Nic describes his journey through rehab, detailing his struggles, expulsion, and life after. Nic starts out making great progress in his rehab center and is told by his counselor that he is ready to take the next step into the Day Program. This all changes when Nic is caught kissing his secret girlfriend, Sue Ellen. Nic is immediately expelled and given the choice to be transferred to an all male sober house in New Mexico or be kicked to the curb. Nic refuses to go to the all male sober house, instead focusing on finding a way to be with Sue Ellen. After his parents refuse to fund his travel expenses to be with Sue Ellen in South Carolina, he reluctantly agrees to attend the sober house in New Mexico. Here, Nic attends a twelve step meeting, but abruptly leaves because he has given up on the process. He realizes he is unable to abide by their rules and leaves on his third day. Sue Ellen buys him a bus ticket to South Carolina, and he boards a bus, starting the next chapter of his life.


Nic Sheff, the author of We All Fall Down




Sheff, Nic. We All Fall Down: Living with Addiction. New York: Little, Brown, 2011. Print.