Soma in Brave New World
Taylor Culmone
Mrs. Gomes
English 4AP 4A/C
November 29, 2010
Huxley introduced the use of recreational drugs into everyday life for their sole purpose of creating artificial happiness. The utilization of soma formed another world for the consumers to live in, a world full of happiness and euphoria: “By this time the soma had begun to work. Eyes shone, cheeks were flushed, the inner light of universal benevolence broke out on every face in happy, friendly smiles” (Huxley 81). Is this where 21st century America is headed with its use of marijuana, or do we use it for entirely different purposes? Thirteen year old Alby began smoking pot because it made him feel relaxed and as if all of his problems were disappearing. The intoxicated feeling brought him into another state of mind (Bailey). A person may take drugs to 'escape ' from a problem during a particularly stressful time in their life (Drugs and Depression). Alby took recreational drugs because he didn’t see another option, he believed he had nothing left and that the drugs would make everything better. Could this be where 21st century America is headed – taking drugs because we see no other options? Valerie Corral, a woman who began suffering from epilepsy after an auto-accident began smoking medical marijuana because it allowed her to completely control the onset of her seizures. The medical marijuana helped her more than any prescription drug was able to and did so without the side effects (Corral). Unfortunately for Valerie, the Institute of Medicine conducted a comprehensive study in 1999 to assess the potential health benefits of marijuana and the study concluded that smoking marijuana is not recommended for the treatment of any disease condition (Exposing the Myth).
Work Cited
Baily, Cate. "NIDA for Teens: Real Stories - Marijuana." NIDA for Teens: The Science Behind Drug Abuse. Web. 29 Nov. 2010. <http://teens.drugabuse.gov/stories/story_mj1.php>.
Corral, Valerie.
Mrs. Gomes
English 4AP 4A/C
November 29, 2010
Huxley introduced the use of recreational drugs into everyday life for their sole purpose of creating artificial happiness. The utilization of soma formed another world for the consumers to live in, a world full of happiness and euphoria: “By this time the soma had begun to work. Eyes shone, cheeks were flushed, the inner light of universal benevolence broke out on every face in happy, friendly smiles” (Huxley 81). Is this where 21st century America is headed with its use of marijuana, or do we use it for entirely different purposes? Thirteen year old Alby began smoking pot because it made him feel relaxed and as if all of his problems were disappearing. The intoxicated feeling brought him into another state of mind (Bailey). A person may take drugs to 'escape ' from a problem during a particularly stressful time in their life (Drugs and Depression). Alby took recreational drugs because he didn’t see another option, he believed he had nothing left and that the drugs would make everything better. Could this be where 21st century America is headed – taking drugs because we see no other options? Valerie Corral, a woman who began suffering from epilepsy after an auto-accident began smoking medical marijuana because it allowed her to completely control the onset of her seizures. The medical marijuana helped her more than any prescription drug was able to and did so without the side effects (Corral). Unfortunately for Valerie, the Institute of Medicine conducted a comprehensive study in 1999 to assess the potential health benefits of marijuana and the study concluded that smoking marijuana is not recommended for the treatment of any disease condition (Exposing the Myth).
Work Cited
Baily, Cate. "NIDA for Teens: Real Stories - Marijuana." NIDA for Teens: The Science Behind Drug Abuse. Web. 29 Nov. 2010. <http://teens.drugabuse.gov/stories/story_mj1.php>.
Corral, Valerie.
Cited: Baily, Cate. "NIDA for Teens: Real Stories - Marijuana." NIDA for Teens: The Science Behind Drug Abuse. Web. 29 Nov. 2010. <http://teens.drugabuse.gov/stories/story_mj1.php>. Corral, Valerie. "MAPS - Volume 4 Number 4 Spring 1994 -a Patient 's Story, Medical Marijuana." MAPS: Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies. Web. 30 Nov. 2010. <http://www.maps.org/news-letters/v04n4/04426mmj.html>. "Drugs and Depression." NetDoctor.co.uk - The UK 's Leading Independent Health Website. Web. 30 Nov. 2010. <http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/diseases/depression/drugsanddepression_000487.htm>. "Exposing the Myth of Smoked Medical Marijuana." Welcome to the United States Department of Justice. Web. 30 Nov. 2010. <http://www.justice.gov/dea/ongoing/marijuana.html>.