Trainspotting Theme

Trainspotting essentially refuses to make up its mind. At the film's close, Renton's betrayal of his friends is completely rationalised away. Were his

A common assumption that is made is that people who are addicted to drugs are suffering from a lack of willpower or moral fibre. People assume that these people could stop using if they simply tried a little harder. Unfortunately for those who are addicted, it is not that simple. When someone takes a drug regularly, heroin, for example, their brain chemistry becomes altered. The body produces less natural dopamine and begins to require more and more of the drug to feel its effects. Eventually, the body will begin to crave the drug, and going without it will lead to nasty withdrawal symptoms, including vomiting, increased heart rate, and

Now this is where choice in very important. Choice works throughout the entire addiction process along with environment and brain chemistry. Addiction is commonly developed in this order. At this point addiction has taken over the over the life of the individual and usually effects anyone close to them. The addict must make the choice to continue along this path or pull out of the situation. Not all addicts have to hit “rock bottom” to overcome their addiction. Addiction can show its self in many different forms and is not the same for everyone. It can effect people in

When Augusten was checked into his rehab center, he had relatively few symptoms of clinical withdrawal. The only major one pointed out was a high blood pressure, which could have easily been due to the journey in which he knew he was about to embark on. But, it is a different story altogether when he is in the midst of a relapse. After a sleepless, sick feeling night, Augusten falls into withdrawal. It starts with hallucinations of spiders (criterion B.5 for the DSM diagnosis of withdrawal). After 24 hours of no alcohol he feels as if he is dying. His body is shaking and his hands have such bad tremors “they vibrate” (criterion B.2). His heart rate has increased dramatically (Criterion B.1) to the point that it “woke me up…beating so wildly in my chest…like someone pounding on the front door”. The

In stories of all kinds, a common theme is “choices”. Choosing what to do with your life, choosing who you want to be with, choosing to defy stereotypes and doing things nobody would expect you to do. In our English course this year, we have read the story Everyone Talked Loudly in Chinatown and watched the film Into the Wild, both of which deal with important choices in life.

If the individual tries to quit using, they may run into problems. Before, drugs and alcohol alleviated some of the depression and anxiety. Without substance abuse, the patient still has to

When a person becomes an addict or even dependent for a prolonged period of time, treatment is necessary. Though there are a variety of different ways that each person can be treated. Usually a person who is dependent is gradually taken off the opiates, by a process known as dose reduction. Subsequently a dependent person may also have some type of therapy to help alleviate the pain at the same time as the dose reduction. On the other hand for an addict, things are different because they must stop using the opiates all together. Today there are many medications such as methadone, suboxone, or subutex that doctors use to help ease the symptoms of withdrawal. Similarly the process of dose reduction is used in this case as well. Most addicts must also enter a program like in-patient or intensive out-patient rehab, where they must learn to cope with problems

Meanwhile, as he is taking responsibility for getting better he also has to deal with pain, both physically and mentally to complete his journey to sobriety. Withdrawal can be described as one of the most excruciating experiences, causing hallucinations, sweating, convulsions and more as the body tries to purify itself. The body’s dependency on drugs becomes so strong after a while it does not know how to survive without them; it keeps waiting to have a need filled, like hunger. At treatment centers, there are detoxifying drugs that help to ease the transition between the addictions from street drugs without causing the body to shut down, slowly easing the body back into its normal state. When James first arrives in rehab, he is put on these detoxifying drugs, as they start to wear off he starts to feel the effects of the damage he has done to himself. As he is waiting for a refill, he describes, “As the line moves forward I start to feel anxious and nervous and angry. With each step closer to the drugs, the feelings become stronger. I can feel my heart beat faster and I look at my hands and they’re

Helping an addict turn his life around can be nearly impossible, especially if he's not ready to help himself change for the better.

The first phase of treatment is taking away the problem substance/activity a little at a time. There are both physical and psychological effects that happen when that person stops taking the substance, they include different obvious signs of having nausea and vomiting, the chills or start sweating, they can have muscle aches and start cramping, no sleeping for long periods of time, changes in the persons heart rate, and sometimes a fever will appear. The emotional effects will include developing depression, anxiety, irritability, and crazy mood swings. These withdrawal symptoms usually can last three to five days or even longer. They are very rarely life-threatening, having medical supervision is usually provided in treatment programs, and medications may be given to help with the discomfort of not having the substance. Behavioral therapy and counseling are important elements of treatment. Cognitive behavior treatment is often used to help patients identify, avoid, and cope with situations in which they are most likely to abuse drugs. The technique of motivational interviewing is often employed to remind people of their values, as a way of avoiding use. Family therapy may also be offered to help the patient maintain a supportive surrounding and help improve a family to function properly. Rehab programs and support groups are often needed to help patients regain necessary jobs and

People addicted to cocaine, heroine and other drugs go through a similar stage called withdrawal. Living without the drugs seem unimaginable and frightening. If our world does not stop this dangerous overuse of drugs we will see ourselves evolve into the frightening direction of Brave New World and will be unable to stop it.

The first time I watched this movie, I was not impressed, but since working on this paper, I have come to appreciate what it is all about. It is not glamorizing drug use nor is it meant to show the best scenario of the group’s lives. It is a raw portrayal of a life of addiction and the never-ending cycle that one goes through and what must be endured. We see how a heroin addiction can grow from a good and seemingly innocent person into a monstrous addiction that consumes lives and relationships alike. Trainspotting looks at both the highs and lows of addiction- from

Donnie Darko is a movie with deeper, greater meaning than the material that is presented. Throughout the movie, there are many reoccurring themes and ideas. These ideas resurface to remind the viewers of the messages that are weaved within the script. These ideas that constantly resurface quietly and secretly help to shape the character’s within the movie. Without these existing ideas, the personalities of most the characters would completely change. Without these themes, Donnie Darko would not even be the same movie. That is why these themes and ideas play a huge role in developing the characters, the character’s roles within the movie, and the movie in itself.

Sean reads a note from Will: "Sean, if the Professor calls about that job, just tell him, sorry, I have to go see about a girl." The film Good Will Hunting focuses on the story of a young man unsure of his future, but discovering a direction through guidance of his psychologist, Sean Maguire. Will Hunting, the protagonist of the classic film, has a gift for mathematics, however, Will is stuck between picking a successful career or a relationship with his soul mate. Sant, the director the film, has previously focused on themes such as homosexuality and social issues. This is relevant because, Gus Van Sant's film, Good Will Hunting, exemplifies the process of discovering

Drugs cause an indescribable high, causing the imprisoned individual to be set free from their reality; however, that’s not only what drugs cause. About 200 million people around the world are drug users causing 250,000 deaths each year. Dependency on a drug then leads to a tolerance to the drug, and before the user knows it, they are addicted. Drugs are like a black hole that vacuums the user into a state of addiction which makes it even more difficult to escape and quit. However, addiction can also take place with any civilized human being. Caffeine, alcohol, and plastic surgery are just a few addictions that people let take over their lives. For someone to stop is quite brave due to several obstacles they are put through. The end of an