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Substance Abuse In Aldous Huxley's Brave New World

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As a teenager, it is likely to find oneself wanting an escape from school, family, or other stresses in life. In Aldous Huxley’s, Brave New World, he predicts that everyone in the future society abuses a drug called soma starting from a very young age. Soma creates happy emotions and a calm sense no matter what the situation. Turning to drugs at one point or another during adolescence is not uncommon in today’s society, whether it is a regular habit, or just trying it simply out of curiosity. Although, it seems that one is not very concerned with how it affects growth and brain development at the time of using. How does drug abuse affect a teenager’s future and physical development? According to neuroscientist Sandra Aamodt, the brain is …show more content…

A large variety of factors are in contribution to why juveniles commit crimes such as home life, stress, mental health, and financial problems. Drugs may play a part in these unlawful actions. “Delinquency and substance abuse have long been linked and this is particularly relevant for adolescents. Delinquency in juveniles is characterized by antisocial and problem behaviors of a criminal nature.” (Consequences of Adolescent Substance Abuse). It seems drug users are more likely to participate in unlawful activity than non-drug users are. Huxley demonstrates giving drugs to citizens of his society to make sure they do not commit crimes. “‘...why you don't take soma when you have these dreadful ideas of yours.’” (Huxley 92). Some become completely reliant on soma to get them through the day. This does relate to how people in our society rely on drugs due to addiction. It creates a feeling of being dependent, and addicts can not see themselves going even hours without it. Huxley’s characters were utterly bewildered when they would hear about someone not needing soma to go on with their life. “People said of him that he could have got through life without ever touching soma.” (Huxley

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