The Hidden Message Imagine having two separate and opposite personalities harboring one body and competing for control; soon a civil war with parts of the mind on opposing sides will erupt and it will not be long before anyone would go utterly mad. This fate is waiting for all those who use a drug by the name of Substance D. Philip K. Dick -a highly regarded science fiction writer who is said to be one of the greatest of his time (Metzger and Straub 88) brought this idea to life in his novel A Scanner Darkly. By referencing his first-hand experience with narcotics, Dick was able to accurately illustrate the mind of a substance abuser and portray the potentially harmful effects drugs may have on the brain; however, his novel contradicts society’s
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When it came to his substance abuse, Philip K. Dick had his own idea on why he was so intrigued him and once said to Platt, “ I regarded drugs as dangerous and potentially lethal, but I had a cat’s curiosity. It was my interest in the human mind that made me curious…These were essentially religious striving that were appearing in me (Metzger and Straub 88).” Dick’s experimentation with amphetamines inspired him to write A Scanner Darkly and allowed him to accurately describe the thought process and intricate visions encountered by drug addicts throughout the entire novel. Eventually Dick was got off of drugs and said, “ Drug misuse is not a disease, it is a decision, like the decision to step out in front of a moving car (Metzger and Straub 88).” Even though Dick beat drug addiction, he still suffered pancreatic damage and had high blood pressure that would lead to a stroke (Metzger and Straub 88) and his death on March 2, 1982 (“Philip K Dick- …show more content…
Dick lived and experienced the drug scene in the United States and he got to witness how society regarded drugs in the 1970s. Glamorization took over the drug scene in the 70s, however the drugs people were so eager to abuse did not come with any further comprehension (Robinson). Gene Chill and John Duff – authors of the book The Truth About Drugs—The Body, Mind, and You - even went to the length to say cocaine would not cause addiction. This sort of ignorance to harmful substances and the damaging effects they bring along with them is exactly why drugs were such an issue in the 1970s. Along with the glamour and ignorance surrounding common narcotics, the widespread popularity of the substances was a whole other issue. Drugs affected every social standing one could hold in society and no one could escape the problems that followed (Charalampous 1225). These problems could range from erratic behavior, damage to the brain, and even death (Mayo Clinic Staff). Ultimately the use of illegal substances is dangerous to users and those around them, but in the 1970s this fact was
When it came to his substance abuse, Philip K. Dick had his own idea on why he was so intrigued him and once said to Platt, “ I regarded drugs as dangerous and potentially lethal, but I had a cat’s curiosity. It was my interest in the human mind that made me curious…These were essentially religious striving that were appearing in me (Metzger and Straub 88).” Dick’s experimentation with amphetamines inspired him to write A Scanner Darkly and allowed him to accurately describe the thought process and intricate visions encountered by drug addicts throughout the entire novel. Eventually Dick was got off of drugs and said, “ Drug misuse is not a disease, it is a decision, like the decision to step out in front of a moving car (Metzger and Straub 88).” Even though Dick beat drug addiction, he still suffered pancreatic damage and had high blood pressure that would lead to a stroke (Metzger and Straub 88) and his death on March 2, 1982 (“Philip K Dick- …show more content…
Dick lived and experienced the drug scene in the United States and he got to witness how society regarded drugs in the 1970s. Glamorization took over the drug scene in the 70s, however the drugs people were so eager to abuse did not come with any further comprehension (Robinson). Gene Chill and John Duff – authors of the book The Truth About Drugs—The Body, Mind, and You - even went to the length to say cocaine would not cause addiction. This sort of ignorance to harmful substances and the damaging effects they bring along with them is exactly why drugs were such an issue in the 1970s. Along with the glamour and ignorance surrounding common narcotics, the widespread popularity of the substances was a whole other issue. Drugs affected every social standing one could hold in society and no one could escape the problems that followed (Charalampous 1225). These problems could range from erratic behavior, damage to the brain, and even death (Mayo Clinic Staff). Ultimately the use of illegal substances is dangerous to users and those around them, but in the 1970s this fact was