TRAINSPOTTING

& HEROIN

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Naf_WiEb9Qs

OPENING PHILOSOPHY

The Cast of the movie Trainspotting consisted of Five main characters and

their dealings with life as drug addicts and, occasionally, lunatics. The movie

takes place in a city named Edinburgh which is the capital of Scotland.

THE CAST

Renton is a heroin addict. He is one of a group of friends who live their lives

day to day and hit to hit. When he tries to kick the habit he manages it for a

while but eventually falls back into his old ways.

THE MAIN CHARACTER

RENTON

Begbie is a cynical member of

Renton’s group of friends. It

is described in the film that

he does not use drugs, but

what he does use people!

BEGBIE

Spud is an immature and spastic character who remains loyal

to Renton throughout the course of the movie. His constant

loyalty eventually comes in handy at the end of the film.

SPUD

Sick Boy is a complacent individual who also uses heroin regularly. He

appeared to be a bit concerned over control; When Renton decided to quit

heroin, Sick Boy followed suit just to prove that he could do it, as Renton was

attempting.

SICK BOY

Tommy abstains from drug use during the majority of the film. But, he finally

gives in eventually and Renton allows him to try Heroin. This decision

eventually leads to a tragic episode for Tommy.

TOMMY

The movie Trainspotting at times started to seem like they were starting to

glamourize drug use, but they would always correct the tone of the movie by

putting in harsh realities of drug use like in the infamous seen where one of

the fellow female junkies finds that her baby has died and appears to have

been dead for a while without anyone noticing.

HARSH REALITIES IN THE MOVIE

Heroin is a powerful, addictive painkilling drug. It is one of the most-used,

most-rapidly acting, and most addictive of the opiate family, which includes

opium, morphine, and codeine.

HEROIN

Most regular users inject either intravenously (into a vein) or intramuscularly

(into a muscle, usually the shoulder) after heating heroin powder in a little

water. It is possible to smoke the drug, but the characters in Trainspotting

always used the drug intravenously.

Heroin creates a euphoric and, as described by the movie, a feeling that is

beyond orgasmic. But the tragic events that occurred deter viewers from using

it in a variety of ways. The movie illustrates the severe withdrawal symtoms,

the tragic events that can occur, and the drastic measures addicts use to get

their ‘fix’

WAYS HEROIN IS USED AND THE

EFFECTS

CODY ADDITIONS

ERINS ADDITIONS

ERINS ADDITIONS

The drug Naloxone is an opoid antagonist drug developed in the 1960s. It is

used in hospital settings for an array of opiate related overdoses, and in

Renton’s case, heroin overdose. It is used specically to counteract the life-

threatening depression of the central nervous system as well as the respiratory

system.

NALOXONE

In the movie, we see the immediate effect of

Naloxone. When Renton is brought into the clinic,

the nurses inject the drug intravenously. As soon as

it is injected, Renton immediately sits up and

appears sober as can be. Seeing this illusrates the

importance of this drug to avoid fatalities due to

opiate overdose

METHADONE

Customers can expect to pay more for a higher-quality product. Generally it's

between $59-$88 per gram, or around $22 for a third of a gram. In some

cases, a customer can buy a single dose of dope for as little as $10. A heroin

addict may spend upwards of $150 per day to support his or her habit .

That is roughly 50,400 dollars a year!

Heroin is a Schedule I substance in the US, and is a Class A illegal substance

in the UK. It has no medical purpose and anyone who is caught possessing,

distributing or manufacturing it is subject to a fine and/or imprisonment on

conviction. The level of punishment depends on the amount of the drug

involved.

THE FINANCIAL AND CRIMINAL

COST OF THE DRUG

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t0D4ekTODuA&feature=related

ENDING PHILOSOPHY

RANDY

http://www.thegooddrugsguide.com/heroin/basics.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edinburgh

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0117951/

REFERENCES