Besides, America already is a drug culture. Coffee and cigarettes in the morning to get going, antidepressants to feel good, booze to feel good and slow down… (He goes on and on describing drug use).
Me: Do any particular movies stand out in your mind relating to the drug culture?
Melvin: There are lots of movies where drugs are glamorized. Movies targeted at the young crowd glorify drugs. I can think of several offhand such as Rules of Attraction, Flight, Savages, Prozac Nation, all those stupid teenage movies…. It seems like every movie
Me: Is the drug culture of concern to you?
Melvin: Of course. My concern is that we are raising a generation of addicts. Who knows what the long-term effects of using drugs like Ritalin or Prozac are? Don't get me wrong, drugs have their uses, but I think depending on them for handling the issues of daily living is wrong.
Me: What drugs do you use?
Melvin: I do drink coffee in the morning. I might have an occasional beer. I don't think any other drugs except for medicinal purposes and once they have served their purpose I stop taking them.
Bob is a retired auto worker. He retired early dual buyout and spends his time reading, doing some travel, and hanging out in coffee shops with his friends.
Me: Bob, what does the term "drug culture" mean to you?
Bob: I think of a budget drug addicts who sit around all day getting high and put all of their efforts into getting more drugs. I think that term originated in the 60s with the hippie movement.
Me: The term for you means and isolate a group of people who are addicted to drugs?
Bob: Yeah. For the most part I think of the drug culture is a group of outcasts who simply want to get high, don't care about society, are not productive and don't contribute to society. Personally, I think they should all be in jail.
Me: So this is something that is of concern to you?
Bob: I'm not sure I really that concerned about it because...
When they turn to
crime to support their habit -- yes that I'm concerned about. They should be put in jail.
Me: Do you think the legalization of
marijuana in some states is good or bad?
Bob: I think it sets a bad example. Don't get me wrong, when I was young I smoked enough for anybody, but I am not sure that legalizing drugs is something that we want to be sending us a message to
children. I really don't care if somebody smokes pot, but I do remember how lazy it made me and I think if we legalize it, but I am in the minority there. I quit smoking pot years ago -- grew out of that one (laughs).
Me: Do any movies come to mind when you think of the term "drug culture"?
Bob: The first movie comes to mind is a movie called Easy Rider with Peter Fonda and Dennis Hopper. Then I think of
Woodstock, that movie with Johnny Depp where he is the
cocaine dealer, Scarface, Reefer Madness (laughs), boy there is a whole bunch of movies I think of.
Me: Do you think movies contribute to the drug culture?
Bob: Sometimes they do. A lot of these movies aimed at teenagers that glorify drug use are bad influences on teenagers.
Me: Do you take any drugs?
Bob: Other than an occasional drink I don't do drugs anymore.
Me: What medications you take?
Bob: I take Paxil and Trazodone because I was treated for
depression, Prinivil and Norvasc for my
blood pressure, Vicodin for my back, Allegra for
allergies, Viagra, and Ambien for
sleep. Sometimes I need a Xanax for
anxiety.
