JD Dibrell

PSY 342.01
Kristen Konkel
30 May 2016
Trainspotting with Lady H
The movie that defined a generation, Trainspotting is set in the seedy subculture of
London, a popular fan favorite in America. The film follows a group of friends (which is used
loosely here because there is very little functional or prosocial about the relationships presented)
down the rabbit hole of addiction, loss, and withdrawal. Or at least thats what were supposed to
see. The novel depicts the disgusting life of the drug addict, however, the film does not. Even the
IMDB synopsis gives us this: Renton, deeply immersed in the Edinburgh drug scene, tries to
clean up and get out, despite the allure of the drugs and influence of friends ( Throughout the
film we are shown addiction, use and abuse of relationships, mocking of treatment and welfare
benefits, and glorification of heroin use. We are also shown some of the grit of addiction and the
depths of depravity that accompany. However, over all, the movie does not successfully portray
heroin use and addiction as an overly serious problem.
None of the characters, with the exception of the toilet scene where a character actually
digs through feces to locate heroin suppositories, actually seems to be in the least amount of
actual distress regarding their addiction. The overall feel of the film and the characters use of the
substance is relatively light for such a serious topic. No one suffers a hot load and dies in
throes of agony, no one performs oral sex on another male for their fix, no one even really seems
unhappy. The only death were shown in the movie is not from a hot-load, it is not from
overdosing, it is not from a drug deal gone bad, but rather its from toxoplasmosis in someone

who is already HIV positive. This is more a complication from living in squalor rather than the
drug use.
Personal note, I know a former heroin addict personally, according to her these aforementioned depths of depravity do not even remotely mirror the habit or the need that goes along
with it. She has been clean for 10 years and yet cannot put on weight, is a walking skeleton with
sunken cheeks and eye sockets, chain smokes menthol cigarettes, still has poor impulse control
and exhibits poor decision making as a pattern even when she knows what shes supposed to do.
She is attempting to live a normal life, but after spending a period of 5 years in a relationship
with a man who sold heroin and treated her like a punching bag and blow-up doll. She
consciously knows what to do but still doesnt do it and cant even explain why. She is extremely
irresponsible for having 3 kids but wants to be responsible. This is likely due to degradation of
white matter in her brain which can effect decision-making, behavioral regulation, and how one
responds to stress. However, excuses are also a common issue for chronic drug users and this
may well just be a way to keep from having to be responsible.k
The main character suffers no real consequences from his addiction or his misuse of those
close to him. In fact, he ends up quite fine and could almost serve as a role model for those who
are considering heroin use. He is portrayed as more of an anti-hero who eventually does the right
thing rather than a drug pusher, addict, and a man of poor character who destroys a friends
functional relationship, gets him hooked on a substance, and even
The film portrays treatment as a joke which is highly ineffectual and pointless, in fact it
implies that getting clean is easy, if you want to do it, and that you dont need help. It also
implies that when you get yourself over your addiction you will be just fine and live a very
happy, normal, and well-adjusted life afterward and that none of the horrible things you did to

yourself or those close to you will ever haunt you. The treatment scenes do not accurately portray
the difficulties of coming down off of heroin. These are nausea, vomiting, delirium, hysteria,
diarrhea, vomiting, insomnia, cold sweats, chills, fevers, severe muscle pain and cramping that
leads to what appears to be spasmodic behavior. Quite the opposite. The coming down seems
pretty quiet and painless. In fact, the character only goes as an alternative to prison, not to get
clean and does not ever personally acknowledge that he actually has a problem.
Trainspotting glorifies heroin use and basically states that the war on drugs is a complete
waste of time, money, and effort, not to mention wholly unnecessary. After all, there are no real
consequences or side effects from heroin so why bother, right? It also creates an illusion that
tolerance is not an issue and that a drug user is really no different than someone shopping for a
new car. They carefully weigh the options and choose the dosage that is correct for their lifestyle.
This is simply not true and we know this from history and from scientific data. Instead of being a
gripping, hard hitting treatise on the darkness of drug use, we see a film that glorifies it as a
choice or even a minor illness rather than an actual social issue.
The film does do an excellent job commentating on the war on the futility of the war on
drugs in Britain and does bring certain issues to light that need examining from a social
perspective, but that is beyond the scope of this document. This is why Trainspotting defined a
generation, it is the cultural motto of drug users in the 90s in the Western World. This is why, in
my opinion, the war on drugs wont be won with law enforcement, guns, jails, and badges.
Because there are too many my age and older (but this cuts off at the Baby Boomers) who simply
feel that drugs should be a personal choice not the governments choice for you.

Reference
IMDB (6 March 2003) Trainspotting. IMDB. Retrieved from:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0117951/
Julien, R. M., Advokat, C. D., Comaty, J. E. (2011) A primer of drug action: A comprehensive
guide to the actions, uses, and side effects of psychoactive drugs. New York: Worth.
Macdonald, A., (Producer), & Boyle, D., (Director). (1996). Trainspotting (Motion picture).
United Kingdom: PolyGram Pictures (UK) Miramax Films (U.S.)