Buffy & drug use

[Okra]

With Buffy the Vampire Slayer, there were a number of social issues, like the lesbian relationship with Willow and Tara. That is a social issue that affects a number of teenagers and adults then and now. There was the divorce of Buffy Summers parents. There was the death of Buffy Summers mother. There were a number of social issues that wanted to give the most positive outcome (even that it was negative.) The one major topic that was never (as I recall) debated: "illegal drugs."

There were a number of people that could be dealing with that social ill. True, Angle and Spike would not be the ideal: as they were vampires. Would have to remove Tara and Willow, as to merge a lesbian relationship with illegal drugs "“ would have weaken the positive relationship (positive, to make it more acceptable.) There are the other characters; still, they were important to Buffy.

There are only two characters that would make sense to make them drug users "“ Faith and Dawn. Would have to remove Faith, as the drug use would affect her ability to fight (vampires and with Buffy), and would make her role complex. The only real character that was very important to Buffy Summers, that could make the role of a drug user would have to be Dawn Summers.

What if, Dawn Summers was a drug user (illegal drugs)?

 

[sisterofmercy]

Drug use was alluded to at several points though. Willow's whole magic addiction was the most obvious, as well as the whole magic weed thing in Gone and the spell Buffy did to find out what Dawn was in Season 5 (that was quite trippy).

However, to the actual question, I think it would have made more sense for Dawn to do drugs than be a klepto in Season 6, considering her issues. But at the same time I'm not sure if she was quite that type of character, though it depends on what kind of drug it was I suppose.

It would have been interesting though, particularly as it's a very human problem rather than anything mystical. Would have been good to see Buffy face that issue without resorting to her slayer powers.

 

[Bexieh]

To be honest, I always saw Willow's magic addiction as the shows way of tackling that particular issue. It didn't directly say it was, but I always figured that's what the whole storyline was meant to be in relation to and I think that was a good way of tackling it.

I can't actually see any of the characters doing it though. I mean, I can see where Willow's magic addiction comes from but I couldn't see her actually doing human drugs. But then again, I don't know anyone who does drugs so I don't think I'm particularly qualified to judge which characters would be most like to do them. Maybe Buffy, since she's under so much stress and whatnot. Maybe Dawn like was already said, because I could see her doing it as a mixture of escapism and attempting to get attention from Buffy.

 

[FAH]

I agree on the Willow Magic thing. I always saw that as the shows tackle on drug abuse. Willow was so addicted to it she was changing as a person and pushing everyone close to her away, just like a drug addict.

More on the point to your question though, I think it would have been a good storyline to have tackled drug use more on exact,and with Dawn. Like [MENTION=10446]sisterofmercy[/MENTION] said instead of Dawn being a kleptomania in season 6 they could have had her on drugs. It would have fit with what was going on with her in that time. She was very alone feeling and just looking for a way to feel something, hence drugs could have played into that.
O well it didn't go that way.

 

[Okra]

Will say I understand the feelings that Willow used drugs. Still, the so called drugs were for magic – not drugs for pleasure and the effects they do to the person and the family. Willow did use drugs for magic, ‘still there was nothing to show she missed school or any other social ills.’

When I think of Dawn on illegal drugs, was thinking she would be on “Meth” or some harder drugs. Thinking of drugs that could kill her, or, drugs even if you stop still having a lifetime of problems.

 

[Cast No Shadow]

Will say I understand the feelings that Willow used drugs. Still, the so called drugs were for magic "“ not drugs for pleasure and the effects they do to the person and the family. Willow did use drugs for magic, "˜still there was nothing to show she missed school or any other social ills.'

When I think of Dawn on illegal drugs, was thinking she would be on "Meth" or some harder drugs. Thinking of drugs that could kill her, or, drugs even if you stop still having a lifetime of problems.

I really don't get this...she got 'high' off magic, that's what I think was implied. It was for pleasure. And no other social ills? It ruined her relationship, which drugs often do, and she injured Dawn in a car crash.

I also have trouble picturing Dawn on meth.

 

[Okra]

True, but the drugs really did not kill Willow. Now, if Dawn was on Meth and Willow opened up a Meth Lab: “That would be more interesting.”

 

[david4wt]

I'm sorry Okra, but why all this interest in disturbing plotlines? I love playing some "What if..." but what's with all this incest and heavy drug abuse?

 

[Cast No Shadow]

So...you want drugs to kill Willow? Maybe I'm being silly, but I really don't understand where your point of view is coming from.

And Willow would never have encouraged anyone else to take drugs.

 

[Okra]

I'm sorry Okra, but why all this interest in disturbing plotlines? I love playing some "What if..." but what's with all this incest and heavy drug abuse?

Sometimes you have to study the "˜Dark Side' of the force: "Once you understand you can develop a lifestyle that Grand Master Yoda would approve." "Fear is the path to the dark side; Fear leads to anger; Anger leads to hate; Hate leads to suffering "“ Grand Master Yoda." If we understand our fears, we understand how to avoid them as best as we can.

 

[Ripper666]

True, but the drugs really did not kill Willow.

Yes. Not till this point of storyline. But what if Willow didn't stop using drugs? Then she would have probably died!

All in all I liked the Willow/drug metaphor and it was handled the right way! Another person with a drug problem would have been ... let's say boring. The same.
I don't like the idea of Dawn taking drugs. I think she has enought strength to say no to drugs.

 

[Bexieh]

I think that if Willow hadn't gotten help, the magic would have slowly destroyed her anyway. The magic was pretty much destroying her life, she almost got others into trouble with it many a time. I actually prefer them using magic as a metaphor for drugs rather than having actual drugs on the show. I don't know why but at the end of the day I can't really imagine them putting human drugs in the show, and I can imagine the backlash it would have gotten too. I don't think any of them are really the type to get into drugs, and I think the fact that it happened to Willow, Miss Sensible, because it slowly crept up in her through her magic use is more likely than her picking up some human drugs, if you know what I mean. That's just my opinion but I have a hard time visualising any of them taking stuff. I think having magic instead of drugs allowed them to handle it more delicately than using actual ones would too.

I prefer them using mystical metaphors for things. It's like how you get some sci-fi shows touch on important political issues and whatnot through aliens. It's talking about the problem but not being direct, and I like that. I can't really explain why I just think it's a great way to go about a subject that could be touchy to the audience if you were to blatantly throw it in their faces.

 

[sisterofmercy]

Will say I understand the feelings that Willow used drugs. Still, the so called drugs were for magic "“ not drugs for pleasure and the effects they do to the person and the family. Willow did use drugs for magic, "˜still there was nothing to show she missed school or any other social ills.'

When I think of Dawn on illegal drugs, was thinking she would be on "Meth" or some harder drugs. Thinking of drugs that could kill her, or, drugs even if you stop still having a lifetime of problems.

I'd picture her on weed or some kind of prescription pill to be honest. She was too good a kid to get into something like meth but I can see her becoming a stoner. I think generally though that's been done to death in teenage shows.

 

[Okra]

I'd picture her on weed or some kind of prescription pill to be honest.

Last Friday night, I watched "Real Time with Bill Maher " on my 48 inch HD television. A fact came out: the United States has five percent of the world population, and it consumes fifty-six percent of all pain medication.

 

[Jaeger]

Anyone remember early on in season 4 where they deal with a group of vampires who kill college students and then steal all their stuff? When Buffy and co are looking at all the stuff they stole Xander says something along the lines of "dibs on the bong." I always got a kick out of that line.

 

[Skytteflickan88]

Not sure if anyone mentioned Riley and the other people in season 5 of Buffy and season 4 of Angel that was addicted to being bitten(and in season 4 of Angel, also drugs). There was also Giles' magic abuse mentioned in season 2.

I would say that drug abuse was a big theme on the shows, shown in many different ways.

 

[Fredsicle]

Need we remind anyone that Winifred Valerie (that's the middle name I've decided she has, though it was never brought up, and it flows nicely) Burkle, who was in the graduate physics program at UCLA, smoked pot? I've always felt that drugs were magic, in a sense. "Willow, you're using too much magic", and the whole "go a week and then we'll see" reminded me of an intervention. Later in the episode, Tabula Rasa, Willow of course uses the spell to purge Buffy and Tara's memory, which affected herself and all her friends. This happens with drugs all the time. And for the record I kind of see Dawn smoking pot in high school. Imagine that situation. "Dawn, where did you get this?" "Janice's older sister. She just came back from LA." Because that's where the crazy happens. Seeing Willow resist the pressure during Buffy's party in Older and Far Away (I think? Dawn's wish?) was a lot like, for me at least, seeing someone resist the urge to smoke or drink at a party. Willow's going off the deep end after Tara was shot can be related to someone who becomes an alcoholic or druggie. This is different in Willow's case, seeing as she was heavily "skilled in magic" so to speak. Whereas in real life this would be like someone overdosing. It's a hard subject to explain, but I know the writers knew what they were doing and communicating.

 

[SlayerFest]

Need we remind anyone that Winifred Valerie (that's the middle name I've decided she has, though it was never brought up, and it flows nicely)

My middle name for her is Viola 😉

And for the record I kind of see Dawn smoking pot in high school. Imagine that situation. "Dawn, where did you get this?" "Janice's older sister. She just came back from LA." Because that's where the crazy happens.

Hahah why does everyone think this? Whenever I visit my family in Pennsylvania I'll sometimes overhear people saying things like, "Los Angeles...that place is crazy!" But I guess it is a bit more wild than Sunnydale...to the naked eye 😉 (am I using that idiom correctly? heh).

 

[Tyger tyger]

I dig Fred having a Shakespearean middle name! She just looks like she would... or maybe it is the unisex first name that is sending me "Twelfth Night" vibes? In my experience drugs are more prevalent outside the city. I moved around a lot and when I lived somewhere where people had lots of stuff to do... they did that (save the folks who would be into drugs regardless). But when I lived in smaller towns there was less variations of drugs but way less stigma attached. I think they were iffy with all real substances... I used to get a kick out of them trying to obscure the Evan William's label on Spikes whiskey (proof that my High School years were spent in those small towns... I can differentiate Jack from Evan from a mile away). Other than Willows allegorical drug use I think it would have been too complected an issue to add to an already convoluted verse. We did however see shades of it here and there... and he seems to be tip-toeing all around it in the comics.

 

[Washburne]

As for the initial question. I'm too innocent and clueless to give any insight in such a storyline. Dawn using "lighter" drugs I can see but not much further than that.

Not sure if anyone mentioned Riley and the other people in season 5 of Buffy and season 4 of Angel that was addicted to being bitten

I started to wonder if I was the only one seeing it that way. Logical or not my mind instantly jumped to that when I saw the thread.