2. Intro
• Sonny’s Blues by James Baldwin
• Claim: By the use of history, biology, and psychology
we can see how drugs have become a world-renowned
issue and how they affect relationships.
3. History of Drugs
• First distributed over-the- counter at
pharmacies
• Common drugs in America were:
o methamphetamine
o LSD
o heroin
o crack cocaine
o marijuana
• Mainly used for medical reasons
• Eventually users started to get
addicted to the feeling it gave.
4. The Effects of Heroin
• Biological
perspective
• Short-term Effects
• Long-term Effects
• Connection to
Sonny’s Blues.
5. A Different Perspective
● Drugs can be
good.
○ They can help you
realize things
about yourself and
the world.
○ Can influence and
inspire you.
6. ● Although some
good come from
drugs are
ultimately
destructive
○ Effects
■ Families
■ Health
A Different Perspective cont’d
7. Psychological Perspective
Reasoning for Drug Use
● influenced/peer
pressure
● image
● escape
● relax
● experiment
● recreational purpose
Psychological Effects
● substance abuse
● substance dependence
○ lose control
○ focus effected
8. Sonny’s Blues
In the short story “Sonny’s Blues” by
James Baldwin we discuss how drugs,
heroin in particular, affect Sonny in
three major ways:
• Health
• Relationships
• Financial Stability
9. Conclusion
Through history, biology, and psychology
we were able to tie drugs and the
physical effects on the body to the
emotional and mental effects it has on a
relationships.
10. Work Cited
“What are the Effects of Mixing Crack Cocaine and Alcohol?” Alcoholic.org. Independent Alcoholism Help
Council, 2014. Web. 2014
Cramb, Auslan. “Man dies injecting heroin contaminated with anthrax” Telegraph.com.uk. Telegraph Media
Group Limited, 17 Aug. 2012. Web. 17 Aug. 2012.
“Meth Overview”. Methamphetamine.org. Methamphetamine Treatment Project, 30 June 2013. Web. 30
June 2013.
“12 Relationship Truths We Often Forget.” Marcandangel.com. Marc and Angel Hack Life. 2006-2014.
Web. 2006-2014. (title slide)
“Facts about Smart Drugs” theblogofhealth.com. The Blog of Health, 11 Jan. 2014. Web. 11 Jan. 2014.
(title slide)
“Steve Jobs”. http://www.forbes.com/profile/steve-jobs/ Web. 2014.
“Study: LSD can help dying people see the light” http://www.hightimes.com/read/study-lsd-can-help-
dying-people-see-light 07 March 2014. Web. 2014.
11. “Elvis Presley”. Wikepedia. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elvis_Presley 18 April 2014. Web 2014
http://www.sodahead.com/united-states/fox-glee-cory-monteith-tribute-to-address-addiction/question-
3843611/
http://infoek.cz/category/nezarazene/
Work Cited cont’d
