1 pound ≈ Saturday, 16 June 2013 ≈ Year I ≈ Number 16 ≈ Editor: David Marques ≈ Associate Editors: Maria Cavaco & Hugo Delgado
DRUGS: ROSE COLORED GLASSES
Enlighten, Burn & Overshadow CONFESSIONS OF A DRUG ADDICT
Life under the influence
DRUGS HUNTER S. THOMPSON'S APOLOGIA
The intoxicated Hunter THOMAS DE QUINCEY CONFESSIONS OF AN ENGLISH OPIUM EATER
Laudanum WILLIAM S. BURROUGHS CHAPTER 28
Withdrawal
ART COVER (ORIGINAL IMAGE): 一個滑步, BY 李妻四｜畄讯 (MODIFIED)
16 jun 2013
EDITORIAL
drugs
Why ______ ? Sociology has a long and venerable history of detailed ethnographic work based around the lives of those on the margins and their alcohol and drug use.
The
Enlighten, Burn & Overshadow
recreational drugs
issue of Health Sociology Review
and alcohol are inherently social
present a selection of diverse and
practices that are shaped by their
important new contributions to the
immediate social context. You
sociology of drugs and alcohol. We
would imagine that a sociologi-
begin with an historical overview
cal approach would be central to
of alcohol regulation by esteemed
research in the field. As Zajdow
researcher Room (2010). His paper
(2005) observed, sociologists seem
presents the wide sweep of state
to be reluctant to become involved
regulation in interaction with the
John Quadros
in debates about drug consump-
temperance movement, party poli-
john.quadros@apologia.co.uk
tion. So why doesn't sociology have
tics and gender and class dynamics
a louder voice in the field? Firstly,
in relation to alcohol consumption.
April 20 is the counter-culture “holiday” on which lots and lots of people
there is a diversity of sociological
Sociology has a long and ven-
come together to advocate marijuana legalization (or just get high). Should
interests and approaches so there
erable history of detailed ethno-
drugs—especially marijuana—be legal? The answer is “yes.” Immediately.
is no single voice from the disci-
graphic work based around the
Without hesitation. Do not pass Go. Do not collect $200 seized in a civil
pline. This is both a strength and
lives of those on the margins and
asset forfeiture. The war on drugs has been a dismal failure. It’s high time
a weakness. Sociology doesn't
their alcohol and drug use. From
to end prohibition. Even if you aren’t willing to go whole-hog and legalize
always speak easily to public health
Street Corner Society, William
all drugs, at the very least we should legalize marijuana.
and public policy in the drug and
Foote Whyte's pioneering work
For the sake of the argument, let’s go ahead and assume that every-
alcohol field because of its critical
in Chicago first published in 1943
thing you’ve heard about the dangers of drugs is completely true. That
questioning approach. The empha-
(Whyte 1955), to Howard Becker's
use of
sis on critical analysis and wider
Outsiders in 1963 and Norman
social processes are not eas-
P R O
DRUGS: ROSE COLORED GLASSES
ily translated into public
not mesh easily
Prohibition is a textbook example of a policy with negative unin-
Anonymous (Denzin 1997),
tended consequences. Literally: it’s an example in the textbook I use
deep and detailed stud-
in my introductory economics classes (Cowen and Tabarrok, Modern
ies rooted in par-
Principles of Economics if you’re curious) and in the most popular
ticipant observation
introductory economics textbook in the world (by N. Gregory Mankiw).
over long periods
The demand curve for drugs is extremely inelastic, meaning that peo-
of time have contributed
ple don’t change their drug consumption very much in response to
to sociological understand-
changes in prices. Therefore, vigorous enforcement means higher prices
Ana Carolina Maia
with individualist approaches to the management of drug and alcohol use. Because of the domi-
probably means that using drugs is a terrible idea. It doesn’t mean, however, that the drug war is a good idea.
Denzin's work on Alcoholics
health interventions and they do
Should drugs—especially marijuana—be legal? The answer is “yes.” Immediately. Without hesitation. Do not pass Go. Do not collect $200 seized in a civil asset forfeiture.
ing of the way that the world is
and higher revenues for drug dealers.
nant framing of drug and alcohol
experienced by people on the edges
People associate the drug trade with crime and violence; indeed,
use as problematic, sociological
of our social world. In Australia,
the newspapers occasionally feature stories about drug kingpins
analyses that present drug and
Denton (2001) described the lives
doing horrifying things to underlings and competitors. These
alcohol consumption in more posi-
of women scrabbling to keep lives
aren’t caused by the drugs themselves but from the fact that they
tive ways, by linking consumption
and families together, in and out
are illegal (which means the market is underground) and addictive
to pleasure, sociality, contemporary
of prisons by dealing drugs. Lisa
(which means demanders aren’t very price sensitive).
forms of subjectivity and normative
Maher's (Dixon & Maher 2002;
Those same newspapers will also occasionally feature articles about
power and governance are pushed
Maher & Ho 1998) ground-break-
how this or that major dealer has been taken down or about how this
ing work on young people's drug
or that quantity of drugs was taken off the streets. Apparently we’re
Nevertheless, what sociology
use in Cabramatta is a stand out
to take from this the idea that we’re going to “win” the war on drugs.
does bring to the table is impor-
example of ethnographic work that
Apparently. It’s alleged that this is only a step toward getting “Mister
tant work on social organisation
takes ethnicity and marginaliza-
Big,” but even if the government gets “Mister Big,” it’s not going to
of alcohol and drug consumption
tion as central to understanding
matter. Apple didn’t disappear after Steve Jobs died. Getting “Mr. Big”
and intoxication. In this editorial
individual's consumption. What all
won’t win the drug war. As I pointed out almost a year ago, economist
we point to key sociological con-
these contributions have in com-
and drug policy expert Jeffrey Miron estimates that we would have
tributions to knowledge on drug
mon, apart from their content, is
a lot less violence without a war on drugs.
and alcohol social policy, close
their methodology. Ethnography
At the recent Association of Private Enterprise Education conference,
ethnographic work on specific drug
and participant observation over
David Henderson from the Naval Postgraduate School pointed out the
cultures, the broader structural
lengthy periods of time are the only
myriad ways in which government promises to make us safer in fact
to the margins.
organisation of drug and alcohol
ways to uncover how the minutiae
imperil our safety and security. The drug war is an obvious example: in
use, and theoretical work on the
of life relate to wider processes of
the name of making us safer and protecting us from drugs, we are actually
subjectivities, desires and govern-
the social world and the structures
put in greater danger. Without meaning to, the drug warriors have turned
ance of drug users. Disciplinary
that seemingly overwhelm the
American cities into war zones and eroded the very freedoms we hold dear.
identification is complex and some
most disadvantaged.
of the researchers we identify in this editorial, as key sociological
Freedom of contract has been abridged in the name of keeping
The social anthropologists,
us “safe” from drugs. Private property is less secure because it can be
Jeff
seized if it is implicated in a drug crime (this also flushes the doctrine
figures in the field, may not see
Schonberg have provided sociolo-
of “innocent until proven guilty” out the window). The drug war has
themselves as such and instead
gists working in the field with won-
been used as a pretext for clamping down on immigration. Not sur-
identify with the cognate disci-
derful and poetic analyses of life as
prisingly, the drug war has turned some of our neighborhoods into
plines of anthropology, criminol-
dealers and users of crack cocaine
war zones. We are warehousing productive young people in prisons at an alarming rate all in the name of a war that cannot be won.
Philippe
Bourgois
and
ogy, gender studies, human geogra-
in New York (Bourgois 1995) and
phy or public health - we don't see
very recently a vivid narrative of
Albert Einstein is reported to have said that the definition of insan-
this as a problem. In this special
homeless heroin and crack addicts .
ity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different
02
16 jun 2013
CONFESSIONS OF A DRUG ADDICT
results. By this definition, the drug war is insane. We are no safer, and we are certainly less free because of concerted efforts to wage war on drugs. It’s time to stop the insanity and end prohibition.
Life under the influence
April 20 is the counter-culture “holiday” on which lots and lots of people come together to advocate marijuana legalization (or just get high). Should drugs—especially marijuana—be legal? The answer is “yes.” Immediately. Without hesitation. Do not pass Go. Do not collect $200 seized in a civil asset forfeiture. The war on drugs has been a dismal failure.
This is where you can confess what you've done and regret, what you love about
It’s high time to end prohibition. Even if you aren’t willing to go whole-
drugs, what you hate, why you do it, what no one else knows, and things like
hog and legalize all drugs, at the very least we should legalize marijuana.
that. Sometimes drug addicts hide the real reason why they use and this blog
For the sake of the argument, let’s go ahead and assume that every-
is where you can confess it. If you've been affected by a drug addict, you can tell
thing you’ve heard about the dangers of drugs is completely true. That
your story here too.
probably means that using drugs is a terrible idea. It doesn’t mean, confessionsoadrugaddict.tumblr.com
however, that the drug war is a good idea. Prohibition is a textbook example of a policy with negative unintended consequences. Literally: it’s an example in the textbook I use
3390) I think the hardest part of being sober is learning to cope with your emo-
in my introductory economics classes (Cowen and Tabarrok, Modern
tions rather than masking them with drugs. Before when things would go bad my
Principles of Economics if you’re curious) and in the most popular
first response is to get high and forget the pain but now I have to push through it.
introductory economics textbook in the world (by N. Gregory Mankiw).
I can’t run and hide any more I have to face my feelings. I just want to run and hide
The demand curve for drugs is extremely inelastic, meaning that peo-
again, I’m sick of being strong and making myself get through this. Nothing is okay
ple don’t change their drug consumption very much in response to
any more. Positivity is all I have left. I have to keep pushing myself instead of hiding.
changes in prices. Therefore, vigorous enforcement means higher prices 3411) Why feel low when you can feel high?
and higher revenues for drug dealers. People associate the drug trade with crime and violence; indeed, the
3425) I love being a heroin addict. I love that no one, not even my “closest friends” know
newspapers occasionally feature stories about drug kingpins doing horrifying things to underlings and competitors. These aren’t caused by the
that I shoot up. It’s my secret. Mine. And no one can take it away from me, because
drugs themselves but from the fact that they are illegal (which means the
I will never stop and I would rather shoot up than see any of their faces. Why sit in hell
market is underground) and addictive (which means demanders aren’t
with them and pretend, when I can be myself and melt in heaven?
very price sensitive). Those same newspapers will also occasionally feature articles about
3433) I miss the feeling of allowing a substance to completely take over my body. I miss the oncoming high, when you know your mind is about to go for the ride of a lifetime.
“They lie about marijuana. Tell you potsmoking makes you unmotivated. Lie! When you're high, you can do everything you normally do just as well — you just realize that it's not worth the fucking
I’ve been completely sober for 8 months now and with every day, I miss it more and more. 3435) We thought we had everything, all we had were the drugs and now that they’re gone… I don’t like you anymore. 3448) I am slowly going back to what I used to be. I smoke herb every day, but that’s fine. What’s getting to me is my urges to do oxy, DXM, Xanax and smoking opium. The only reason I’m not doing these things are because I promised someone… But it’s getting to the point where I don’t give a fuck. I love drugs too much, more than anyone or anything. 3451) Life without the drug seems stupid. Life with the drug seems horrible. I don’t know
effort. There is a difference.”
what I want.
Bill Hicks
3457) I finally had the spiritual experience that I was praying for. I had it while I was high and something took over me and I suddenly bolt up and left my friend, who was offering me the pipe for a hit. I do honestly believe that in that moment, my life was saved. By
how this or that major dealer has been taken down or about how this
what, I don’t know. But I am grateful for a second chance.
or that quantity of drugs was taken off the streets. Apparently we’re to take from this the idea that we’re going to “win” the war on drugs.
3460) I’m just constantly kicking one vice and picking up another fill it. The only reason
Apparently. It’s alleged that this is only a step toward getting “Mister
you aren’t saying anything this time is because alcohol and cigarettes are far more accept-
Big,” but even if the government gets “Mister Big,” it’s not going to
able than anything else I’ve tried. Honestly though, I still prefer the amphetamines.
matter. Apple didn’t disappear after Steve Jobs died. Getting “Mr. Big” 3461) Eight months clean and still craving daily.
won’t win the drug war. As I pointed out almost a year ago, economist and drug policy expert Jeffrey Miron estimates that we would have
3465) I carry around enough pills with me that will kill me. Everywhere I go…
a lot less violence without a war on drugs.
Just in case.
At the recent Association of Private Enterprise Education conference, David Henderson from the Naval Postgraduate School pointed out the myriad ways in which government promises to make us safer in fact imperil our safety and security. The drug war is an obvious example: in the name of making us safer and protecting us from drugs, we are actually put in greater danger. Without meaning to, the drug warriors have turned American cities into war zones and eroded the very freedoms we hold dear. Freedom of contract has been abridged in the name of keeping us “safe” from drugs. Private property is less secure because it can be seized if it is implicated in a drug crime (this also flushes the doctrine of “innocent until proven guilty” out the window). The drug war has been used as a pretext for clamping down on immigration. Not surprisingly, the drug war has turned some of our neighborhoods into war zones. We are warehousing productive young people in prisons at an alarming rate all in the name of a war that cannot be won. Albert Einstein is reported to have said that the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. By this definition, the drug war is insane. We are no safer, and we are certainly less free because of concerted efforts to wage war on drugs. It’s time to stop the insanity and end prohibition. ORIGINAL IMAGE: ILLUMINATED MAN, BY DUANE MICHALS (MODIFIED)
L O G
3467) I just want to fucking feel better. Nothing works. Youre coming home and im high and crying because I miss you but you don’t want to see me unless we’re getting high. What the fuck. I can’t handle this anymore. The heroin has taken you over, I cant let it take me too. But I still love you. A tweaker and a heroin addict, how romantic. 3471) All I can think about is smoking oxy. It completely takes over my brain. When I don’t have it I get so pissed off and I literally can think of nothing else. When I have it I’m happy, content, perfect. Life when sense when I’m high. This sounds so pathetic. 3486) I still remember when I could remember how my days were… Now everything is just dazed and hazy, a strange fog in my head. I started heroin when I was 15 and went through almost every drug known to man, I really don’t see myself coming out of it. Ended up in the hospital more times than I would like to admit and tried to kill myself 3 times with no success, I think this is the last time I’ll write something.
03
16 jun 2013
HUNTER S. THOMPSON'S APOLOGIA In an October 1957 letter to a friend who had recommended he read Ayn Rand's The Fountainhead, Hunter S. Thompson wrote, “Although I don't feel that it's at all necessary to tell you how I feel about the principle of individuality, I know that I'm going to have to spend the rest of my life expressing it one way or another, and I think that I'll accomplish more by expressing it on the keys of a typewriter than by letting it express itself in sudden outbursts of frustrated violence. . . .”
The intoxicated
Hunter
Mary Snow mary.snow@apologia.co.uk Thompson carved out his niche early. He was born in 1937, in Louisville, Kentucky, where his fiction and poetry earned him induc-
Thompson completed The Rum
Thompson's reputation as an out-
tion into the local Athenaeum
Diary, his only novel to date, before
landish stylist successfully strad-
pected high-country tranquility.
Literary Association while he was
he turned twenty-five; bought by
dling the line between journalism
Jimmy Carter, George McGovern
still in high school. Thompson
Ballantine Books, it finally was
and fiction writing. As the subtitle
and Keith Richards, among dozens
continued his literary pursuits in
published—to glowing reviews—
warns, the book tells of “a savage
of others, have shot clay pigeons
the United States Air Force, writ-
in 1998. In 1967, Thompson
journey to the heart of the American
and stationary targets on the prop-
ing a weekly sports column for the
published his first nonfiction
Dream” in full-tilt gonzo style—
erty, which is a designated Rod and
base newspaper. After two years of
book, Hell's Angels, a harsh and
Thompson's hilarious first-person
Gun Club and shares a border with
service, Thompson endured a series
incisive firsthand investigation
approach—and is accented by
the White River National Forest.
of newspaper jobs—all of which
into the infamous motorcycle
British illustrator Ralph Steadman's
Almost daily, Thompson leaves
ended badly—before he took to
gang then making the heartland
appropriate drawings.
Owl Farm in either his Great Red
freelancing from Puerto Rico and
of America nervous.
His next book, Fear and Loa-
Shark Convertible or Jeep Grand
South America for a variety of
Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas,
thing: On the Campaign Trail '72,
Cherokee to mingle at the nearby
publications. The vocation quickly
which first appeared in Rolling
was a brutally perceptive take on
Woody Creek Tavern.
developed into a compulsion.
Stone in November 1971, sealed
the 1972 Nixon-McGovern presi-
Visitors to Thompson's house
dential campaign. A self-confessed
are greeted by a variety of sculp-
political Johnny Depp and Hunter S. Thompson were friends for more than 10
Thompson
tures, weapons, boxes of books and
chronicled the 1992 presiden-
junkie,
a bicycle before entering the nerve
years before the author killed himself in 2005.
tial campaign in Better than Sex
center of Owl Farm, Thompson's
The two men bonded instantly during their first meeting in 1994, and
(1994). Thompson's other books
obvious command post on the
Depp went on to play Thompson's alter ego in the 1998 film adaptation
include The Curse of Lono (1983),
kitchen side of a peninsula counter
of Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, reports the Associated Press.
a bizarre South Seas tale, and
that separates him from a lounge
An old photo of the author shaving Depp's head for the film was posted
three collections of Gonzo Papers:
area dominated by an always-on
on Reddit, along with part of a conversation between Depp and Inside
The Great Shark Hunt (1979),
Panasonic TV, always tuned to news
The Actor's Studio host James Lipton from 2002:
Generation of Swine (1988) and
or sports. An antique upright piano
"Hunter shaved my head, in fact. I didn’t look in the mirror at all, I was
Songs of the Doomed (1990).
in mortal fear. Hunter had a mining light… on his head – we were in his
is piled high and deep enough with
In 1997, The Proud Highway:
books to engulf any reader for a
kitchen – and yeah, he shaved my hair."
Saga of a Desperate Southern
decade. Above the piano hangs
In his conversation with Lipton, Depp revealed the extreme measures
Gentleman, 1955-1967, the first
a large Ralph Steadman portrait
he undertook to be able to portray Thompson's alter ego, telling the host
volume of Thompson's corre-
of “Belinda”—the Slut Goddess
he even lived in the author's basement, which they called "the dungeon,"
spondence with everyone from his
of Polo. On another wall covered
for a couple months.
mother to Lyndon Johnson, was
with political buttons hangs a
published. The second volume
Che Guevara banner acquired on
of letters, Fear and Loathing in
Thompson's last tour of Cuba. On
America: The Brutal Odyssey of
the counter sits an IBM Selectric
an Outlaw Journalist, 1968-1976,
typewriter—a Macintosh computer
has just been released. ≈
04
ranch house that provide an unex-
is set up in an office in the back wing of the house.
Located in the mostly posh neigh-
The most striking thing about
borhood of western Colorado's
Thompson's house is that it isn't the
Woody Creek Canyon, ten miles
weirdness one notices first: it's the
or so down-valley from Aspen,
words. They're everywhere—hand-
Owl Farm is a rustic ranch with an
written in his elegant lettering,
old-fashioned Wild West charm.
mostly in fading red Sharpie on the
Although Thompson's beloved pea-
blizzard of bits of paper festooning
cocks roam his property freely, it's
every wall and surface: stuck to the
the flowers blooming around the
sleek black leather refrigerator.
16 jun 2013
≈ Used a gold tipped cigarette holder, which was also a tar filter ≈ RAF-style sunglasses ≈ Novels often featured characters who were crazed and selfdestructive
≈ Novels often feature angry rants ≈ Often featured characters based on himself and his experiences
INTERVI EW
TRADEM
ARK
INTERVIEWER
THOMPSON
out four tapes. The Rolling Stones' live album, called Get Yer Ya-Ya's
The lead to Fear and Loathing in
Out with the in-concert version of
Bestiality films.
Las Vegas, “We were somewhere
“Sympathy for the Devil.” INTERVIEWER
near Barstow on the edge of the
INTERVIEWER
desert when the drugs began to take hold . . .” When did you write that? Did you write that first? THOMPSON
What is your instrument in composing? You are one of the few
You can write anywhere, can't you?
writers I know who still uses an
Is there a place you prefer?
electric typewriter. What's wrong THOMPSON
with a personal computer?
≈ Frequently wore hats to cover
No, I have a draft . . . something
his bald head
else was written first, chronologi-
≈ His fast paced, clipped, slurred
cally, but when I wrote that . . . well,
way of speaking
there are moments . . . a lot of them
THOMPSON
Well, this is where I prefer now. I've created this electronic control
I've tried. There is too much
happen when nothing else is going
temptation to go over the copy
right . . . when you're being evicted
and rewrite. I guess I've never
from the hotel a day early in New
grown accustomed to the silent,
center here. INTERVIEWER
York or you've just lost your girl-
non-clacking of the keys and the
If you could construct a writer,
friend in Scottsdale. I know when
temporary words put up on the
what attributes would you give
I'm hitting it. I know when I'm on.
screen. I like to think that when
him?
I can usually tell because the copy's
I type something on this [point-
clean.
THOMPSON
ing to the typewriter], when I'm finished with it, it's good. I haven't INTERVIEWER
Can you describe a typical writing day?
gotten past the second paragraph
I would say it hurts when you're
on a word processor. Never go back
right and it hurts when you're
and rewrite while you're working.
wrong, but it hurts a lot less when
Keep on it as if it were final.
you're right. You have to be right
THOMPSON
in your judgments. That's probably INTERVIEWER
the equivalent of what Hemingway said about having a shock-proof
I'd say on a normal day I get up at noon or one. You have to feel sort
Do you write for a specific per-
of overwhelmed, I think, to start.
son when you sit down at that
That's what journalism did teach
machine?
shit detector. INTERVIEWER
me . . . that there is no story unless THOMPSON
you've written it.
In a less abstract sense, would selfdiscipline be something you would
INTERVIEWER
No, but I've found that the let-
suggest?
ter form is a good way to get me Are there any mnemonic devices
going. I write letters just to warm
that get you going once a deadline
up. Some of them are just, “Fuck
is upon you—sharpening pencils,
you, I wouldn't sell that for a thou-
THOMPSON You've got to be able to have pages
music that you put on, a special
sand dollars,” or something, “Eat
in the morning. I measure my life
place to sit?
shit and die,” and then send it off
in pages. If I have pages at dawn,
on the fax. I find the mood or the
it's been a good night. There is no
rhythm through letters, or some-
art until it's on paper, there is no
times either reading something or
art until it's sold. If I were a trust-
having something read— it's just
fund baby, if I had any income from
a matter of getting the music.
anything else . . . even fucking disability from a war or a pension . . .
INTERVIEWER
I have nothing like that, never did. So, of course, you have to get paid
Do you have music on when you
for your work. I envy people who
write?
don't have to . . . THOMPSON
INTERVIEWER
Through all the Las Vegas stuff
If you had that fortune sitting in
I played only one album. I wore
the bank would you still write? THOMPSON Probably not, probably not. INTERVIEWER What would you do? THOMPSON
Oh . . . I'd wander around like King Farouk or something. I'd tell editors I was going to write something for them, and probably not do it.
05
16 jun 2013
THOMAS DE QUINCEY | CONFESSIONS OF AN ENGLISH OPIUM EATER
Laudanum courteous
frailty may have drawn over
French. All this I feel so forci-
court privacy and solitude: and
reader, with the record of a remark-
them; accordingly, the greater
bly, and so nervously am I alive
even in their choice of a grave will
able period in my life: according to
part of our confessions
to reproach of this tendency,
sometimes sequester themselves
my application of it, I trust that it
(that is, spontaneous and
that I have for many months
from the general population of the
will prove not merely an interest-
extra-judicial confessions)
hesitated about the propriety
churchyard, as if declining to claim
ing record, but in a considerable
proceed from demireps,
of allowing this or any part
fellowship with the great family of
degree useful and instructive. In
adventurers, or swindlers:
of my narrative to come
man, and wishing (in the affect-
that hope it is that I have drawn it
and for any such acts of
before the public eye until
ing language of Mr. Wordsworth)
up; and that must be my apology
gratuitous self-humilia-
after my death (when, for
Humbly to express A penitential
for breaking through that delicate
tion from those who can
many reasons, the whole
loneliness. It is well, upon the
and honourable reserve which, for
be supposed in sympa-
will be published); and it
whole, and for the interest of us
the most part, restrains us from the
thy with the decent and
is not without an anxious
all, that it should be so: nor would
public exposure of our own errors
self-respecting part of
review of the reasons
I willingly in my own person mani-
and infirmities. Nothing, indeed,
society, we must look
for and against this
fest a disregard of such salutary feel-
is more revolting to English feel-
to French literature,
step that I have at last
ings, nor in act or word do anything
ings than the spectacle of a human
or to that part of
concluded on taking it.
to weaken them; but, on the one
being obtruding on our notice his
the German which
Guilt and misery
hand, as my self-accusation does not
moral ulcers or scars, and tearing
is tainted with the
shrink, by a natu-
amount to a confession of guilt, so,
away that “decent drapery” which
spurious and defec-
ral instinct, from
on the other, it is possible that, if it
time or indulgence to human
tive sensibility of the
public notice: they
did, the benefit resulting to others.
Infirmity
I
here present you,
do not
open to doubts of
were gnawing and
alliance, in proportion to the
of necessity imply guilt. They
casuistry, according
abrading the coats
probable motives and prospects of
approach or recede from shades of
as that name shall
of his stomach”), Mr.
the offender, and the palliations,
that dark alliance, in proportion to
be extended to acts
—, and many others
known or secret, of the offence; in
the probable motives and prospects
aiming at the bare
hardly less known,
proportion as the temptations to it
of the offender, and the palliations,
relief of pain, or shall
whom it would be tedi-
were potent from the first, and the
known or secret, of the offence; in
be restricted to such as
ous to mention. Now, if
resistance to it, in act or in effort,
proportion as the temptations to it
aim at the excitement of
one class, comparatively
was earnest to the last. For my own
were potent from the first, and the
positive pleasure.
so limited, could furnish
part, without breach of truth or
and
misery
resistance to it, in act or in effort,
Guilt, therefore, I do
so many scores of cases
modesty, I may affirm that my life
was earnest to the last. For my own
not acknowledge; and if
(and that within the
has been, on the whole, the life of
part, without breach of truth or
I did, it is possible that
knowledge of one single
a philosopher: from my birth I was
modesty, I may affirm that my life
I might still resolve on the
inquirer), it was a natural
made an intellectual creature, and
has been, on the whole, the life of
present act of confession in
inference that the entire
intellectual in the highest sense my
a philosopher: from my birth I was
consideration of the service
population
England
pursuits and pleasures have been,
made an intellectual creature, and
which I may thereby render
would furnish a proportion-
even from my schoolboy days. If
intellectual in the highest sense my
to the whole class of opium-
able number. The soundness
opium-eating be a sensual pleasure,
pursuits and pleasures have been,
eaters. But who are they?
of this inference, however,
and if I am bound to confess that
even from my schoolboy days. If
Reader, I am sorry to say
I doubted, until some facts
I have indulged in it to an excess not
opium-eating be a sensual pleasure,
a very numerous class indeed.
became known to me which
yet recorded 1 of any other man, it
and if I am bound to confess that
Of this I became convinced
satisfied me that it was not
is no less true that I have struggled
I have indulged in it to an excess not
some years ago by computing at
incorrect. I will mention two.
against this fascinating enthrall-
yet recorded 1 of any other man, it
that time the number of those in
Three respectable London drug-
ment with a religious zeal, and have
is no less true that I have struggled
one small class of English society
gists, in widely remote quarters
at length accomplished what I never
against this fascinating enthrall-
(the class of men distinguished
of London, from whom I hap-
yet heard attributed to any other
ment with a religious zeal, and have
for talents, or of eminent station)
pened lately to be purchasing
man—have untwisted, almost to
at length accomplished what I never
who were known to me, directly
small quantities of opium, assured
its final links, the accursed chain
yet heard attributed to any other
or indirectly, as opium-eaters;
me that the number of amateur
which fettered me. Such a self-
man—have untwisted, almost to its
such, for instance, as the eloquent
opium-eaters (as I may term them)
conquest may reasonably be set
final links, the accursed chain which
and benevolent —, the late Dean of
was at this time immense; and that
off in counterbalance to any kind
fettered me. Such a self-conquest
—, Lord —, Mr.—the philosopher,
the difficulty of distinguishing those
or degree of self-indulgence. Not
may reasonably be set off in coun-
a late Under-Secretary of State (who
persons to whom habit had rendered
to insist that in my case the self-
terbalance to any kind or degree of
described to me the sensation which
opium necessary.
conquest was unquestionable, the
self-indulgence. Not to insist that
first drove him to the use of opium
Infirmity and misery do not of
self-indulgence open to doubts of
in my case the self-conquest was
in the very same words as the Dean
necessity imply guilt. They approach
casuistry, according as that name
unquestionable, the self-indulgence
of —, viz., “that he felt as though rats
or recede from shades of that dark
shall be extended to acts.
06
of
16 jun 2013
WILLIAM S. BURROUGHS | CHAPTER 28 OF THE ORIGINAL "JUNK" MANUSCRIPT
Withdrawal Withdrawal symptoms are allergic symp-
histamine, and before the specific
toms: sneezing, coughing, running at the
antihistamine drugs, was the only
eyes and nose, vomiting, diarrhea, hive-like
chemical antidote for histamine
conditions of the skin. Severe withdrawal
poisoning.
symptoms are shock symptoms: lowered blood
Most animals have been
pressure, loss of body fluid and shrinking of the
addicted to junk under experimen-
organism as in the death process, weakness,
tal conditions. After receiving the
involuntary orgasms, death through collapse
shots for a period of ten days or so,
of the circulatory system. If an addict dies from
the animal reacts to the hypoder-
junk withdrawal, he dies of allergic shock.
mic as if it were a food plate, rush-
All the symptoms of shock can be produced by an overdose of histamine. Histamine is produced by body tissue wherever injury occurs. Histamine enlarges blood vessels so that extra blood comes to the place of injury. When a blood vessel is enlarged, its walls are stretched thin and porous and so fluid escapes. Loss of blood leads to lowered blood pressure. Excess histamine leads to a lowering of blood pressure and shock, as occurs in serious
ing eagerly forward to get his shot.
Perhaps the intense discomfort of withdrawal is the transition from plant back to animal, from a painless, sexless, timeless state back to sex and pain and time, from death back to life.
When junk is withdrawn, the animal shows withdrawal symptoms: No other substance has produced this syndrome in animals—that the animal eagerly seeks the substance as if it were food. When the substance is withdrawn the animal shows definite physical symptoms.
injury. Adrenaline is the body’s defense against excess
It
junk is the only habit-forming
substance that becomes in this way
drug. Cats cannot be addicted to morphine, as
a part of the biologic rhythm of the
they react to an injection of morphine with acute
body. When you are junk sick you
delirium. Cats have a relatively small quantity of
dream about junk. A curious fact
histamine in the blood stream. It would seem that
about junk dreams is that some-
histamine is the defense against morphine, and
thing always happens to prevent
that cats, lacking this defense, cannot tolerate
you from getting a shot. The cops
morphine. Perhaps the mechanism of withdrawal
rush in, the needle stops up, the
is this: Histamine is produced by the body as
dropper breaks. Anyway, you never
a defense against morphine during the period
get it. I have talked to other users,
of addiction. When the drug is withdrawn, the
and I have never known anyone
body continues to produce histamine.
who ever got fixed in a dream. Junk
would seem that
If you have no histamine-produced symp-
seems to displace the sex drive.
toms, antihistamine drugs produce no effect.
When you are on junk the sex
I bought some ampoules of an antihistamine
drive virtually disappears. When
drug and shot a double dose. I experienced
you start to kick you experience
nothing but a slight depression (the depress-
sex feelings of adolescent intensity,
ing effects of some antihistamine prepara-
often spontaneous orgasms.
tions are “side effects” which chemists intend
Junkies live a long time and
to eliminate). A shot that felt exactly like
often look younger than they are.
morphine when I was sick now produced
When you stop growing you start
effects that were barely perceptible. It
dying. An addict never stops grow-
seems that a user does not get a positive
ing. Most users periodically kick
kick from junk. What he gets is relief from
the habit, which involves shrinking
withdrawal sickness. Possibly all pleas-
of the organism and replacement of
ure is basically relief from a condition
the junk-dependent cells. Scientists
of need, or tension. Junk is the medium
recently experimented with a worm
in which the junk-dependent cells live.
that they were able to shrink by
When junk is cut off junk cells die, and
withholding food. By periodically
excess histamine is produced to carry
shrinking the worm so that it was
away the dead cells. The function of
in continual growth, its life was
allergic sneezing, running at the nose
prolonged indefinitely. A user is
and eyes, vomiting and diarrhea, is to
in a continual state of shrinking
get rid of something. During addic-
and growing in his daily cycle of
tion, junk is a biologic necessity, like
shot-need for junk-shot.
food, water or sex. There is no other
07
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Brian Selmy, Newcastle
Abby Rockwell, Manchester
Dave Barthes, Leeds
Sarah Mingus, York
Whatever you now find weird, ugly,
Oscar was adopted as a kitten
But isn’t desire always the same,
You, my audience, are all a bunch
uncomfortable and nasty about
from an animal shelter and grew
whether the object is present or
of poppaloppers. A bunch of tum-
a new medium will surely become
up in the third-floor end-stage
absent? Isn’t the object always
bling weeds, tumbling ’round,
its signature. CD distortion, the
dementia unit at Steere House
absent? —This isn’t the same lan-
running from your subconscious
jitteriness of digital video, the
Nursing and Rehabilitation Center
guor: there are two words: Pothos,
unconscious minds…. Minds?
crap sound of 8-bit - all of these
in Providence, Rhode Island. The
desire for the absent being, and
Minds that won’t let you stop to
will be cherished and emulated as
41-bed unit treats people with
Himéros, the more burning desire
listen to a word of artistic mean-
soon as they can be avoided. It’s the
Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s disease
for the present being.
ingful truth…. So you come to me,
sound of failure: so much modern
and other illnesses, most of whom
you sit in the front row, as noisy as
art is the sound of things going out
are in the end stage of life and are
can be. I listen to your millions of
of control, of a medium pushing
generally unaware of their sur-
conversations, sometimes pulling
to its limits and breaking apart.
roundings. Oscar was one of six cats
them all up together and writing
The distorted guitar sound is the
adopted by Steere House, which
a symphony. But you never hear
sound of something too loud for the
bills itself as a “pet friendly” facility.
that symphony… You haven’t been
medium supposed to carry it. The
After about six months, the
told before that you’re phonies.
blues singer with the cracked voice
staff noticed that Oscar, just like
You’re here because jazz is popu-
is the sound of an emotional cry too
the doctors and nurses, would
lar, jazz has publicity and you like
powerful for the throat that releases
make his own rounds. Oscar would
to associate yourself with this sort
it. The excitement of grainy film, of
sniff and observe patients, then
of thing. But it doesn’t make you
bleached-out black and white, is
curl up to sleep with certain ones.
a connoisseur of the art because you
the excitement of witnessing events
The patients he would sleep with
follow it around. You’re dilettantes
too momentous for the medium
often died within several hours of
of style. A blind man can go to an
assigned to record them
his arrival. One of the first cases
exhibition of Picasso and Kline and
involved a patient who had a blood
not even see what works. And com-
clot in her leg that was ice cold at
ment behind dark glasses. Wow!
the time. Oscar wrapped his body
They’re the swingingest paint-
around her leg and stayed until the
ers ever, crazy! Well, so can you.
woman died.
You’ve got your dark glasses and clogged-up ears…