Methamphetamine: Built for Speed?
Methamphetamine has reclaimed a place in the lexicon of "party" drugs. Hailed by
nocturnal adventurers, condemned by raver idealists, is speed a sleepless dream
or an addictive nightmare?
by Brian Otto
Here at the end of the millennium, the pace of modern life seems fleeting -- a
whirl of minutes, hours and days. In dealing with the changes, humans have
equipped themselves with the tools to move faster, more efficiently. At the same
time a dependence for the marketing, high-speed transportation and pharmacology
of this modern age has evolved. In a race to outdo ourselves, we have moved
dangerously toward the fine line between extinction and evolution. Therefore,
the human capacity to handle the velocity becomes a fragile balance.
Our generation (see Gen X, 20-somethings) could be considered the sleepless
generation. An age of society's children weaned on the ideals of high-speed
communication and accelerated culture has prided itself in mastering many of the
facets of human existence -- doing more, sleeping less. The machines of this age
have in a way enabled us to create a 24-hour lifestyle. We have pushed the
limits of the modern world further -- ATMs, high-speed modems, smart bombs and
bullet trains. However, the limitations of human existence, like sleep, may
still provide the stumbling block for infinite realization. That is, without
chemical aid.
In many ways, capitalism fuels the idea. Our society is based upon the mass
consumption of these substances. Cultural ideals, while seemingly benevolent as
"Have a Coke and a smile" have sold the link to chemical substances like
caffeine and nicotine to "the good life." Today, stimulants are the bedrock for
consumer culture. For our generation, this appeal was heightened by raising the
stakes in the '80s on what it meant to have fun.
Late night clubs, high speed music and 24-hour lifestyles brought the specter of
drugs to the fold as a necessity for being able to attain more.... [continues]
Methamphetamine has reclaimed a place in the lexicon of "party" drugs. Hailed by
nocturnal adventurers, condemned by raver idealists, is speed a sleepless dream
or an addictive nightmare?
by Brian Otto
Here at the end of the millennium, the pace of modern life seems fleeting -- a
whirl of minutes, hours and days. In dealing with the changes, humans have
equipped themselves with the tools to move faster, more efficiently. At the same
time a dependence for the marketing, high-speed transportation and pharmacology
of this modern age has evolved. In a race to outdo ourselves, we have moved
dangerously toward the fine line between extinction and evolution. Therefore,
the human capacity to handle the velocity becomes a fragile balance.
Our generation (see Gen X, 20-somethings) could be considered the sleepless
generation. An age of society's children weaned on the ideals of high-speed
communication and accelerated culture has prided itself in mastering many of the
facets of human existence -- doing more, sleeping less. The machines of this age
have in a way enabled us to create a 24-hour lifestyle. We have pushed the
limits of the modern world further -- ATMs, high-speed modems, smart bombs and
bullet trains. However, the limitations of human existence, like sleep, may
still provide the stumbling block for infinite realization. That is, without
chemical aid.
In many ways, capitalism fuels the idea. Our society is based upon the mass
consumption of these substances. Cultural ideals, while seemingly benevolent as
"Have a Coke and a smile" have sold the link to chemical substances like
caffeine and nicotine to "the good life." Today, stimulants are the bedrock for
consumer culture. For our generation, this appeal was heightened by raising the
stakes in the '80s on what it meant to have fun.
Late night clubs, high speed music and 24-hour lifestyles brought the specter of
drugs to the fold as a necessity for being able to attain more.... [continues]
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"Methamphetamine: Built for Speed?" StudyMode.com. 10 1999. 10 1999 <http://www.studymode.com/essays/Methamphetamine-Built-Speed-982.html>.
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"Methamphetamine: Built for Speed?." StudyMode.com. 10, 1999. Accessed 10, 1999. http://www.studymode.com/essays/Methamphetamine-Built-Speed-982.html.
