| dc.description.abstract | This project explores the effects of drug abuse and the role of culture and relationships on an individual’s upbringing. Drug abuse is becoming an increasing problem in the world, which is not only bad for individuals, who experience terrible side effects as a result of opioid abuse, but it also affects others in proximity to abusers as well as the relationships they share. How does this use affect both the personalities and actions of users? In what ways do relationships change because of abuse and what role do they play in the development of both an individual’s personality and their propensity to become an addict? Research was conducted through close readings on biographies of drug abusers, as well as scholarly articles on the effects of drug abuse. Additional readings were done on sources focusing on the culture of the Ojibwe tribe and their Wendigo legend, which was conducted to lead the fantasy aspect of the story. Through this research, I strove to answer the overarching question of how drug abuse and culture affect individuals and their relationships. Understanding these ties allows for awareness drug abuse effects and the role of healthy or abusive relationships on how a person develops. This research culminated in a novel about a young boy who is overtaken by an evil spirit, which is used as a metaphor for his drug addiction, and slowly degrades into something monstrous. | en |
