Adrenochrome is a chemical compound created by the oxidation of adrenaline, a hormone secreted by human adrenal glands. Dr. Gonzo brings a bottle of adrenochrome to Vegas, a drug that Duke claims “makes pure mescaline seem like ginger beer.” Duke takes a tiny drop of the drug and can’t walk or speak for hours. While adrenochrome is a fictional drug in Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, the compound does actually exist, although it does not have any psychedelic properties. Thompson’s reference to adrenochrome is implicitly violent—the drug must be harvested from a living adrenal gland, which implies someone must be murdered simply so someone else can get high. This implication of violence aligns with Thompson’s overall argument relating to violence in American society.
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Adrenochrome Term Timeline in Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas
The timeline below shows where the term Adrenochrome appears in Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Part Two, Chapter 5: A Terrible Experience with Extremely Dangerous Drugs
...worry.” He tells Duke to take “hit” from a small bottle in his shaving kit. “Adrenochrome,” he says. “You won’t need much.” Duke has heard of this drug—it “makes pure mescaline...
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The adrenochrome hits Duke almost immediately, and he can he can “feel [his] eyeballs swelling, about to...
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