What Limitless Tells Us About Substance Use

It’s a tempting notion to think you could simply take a pill and become a better, faster, smarter version of yourself. It’s the premise behind the new movie Limitless, starring Bradley Cooper and Abbie Cornish.

Cooper’s character is facing failure on many fronts when he gets his hands on a fictional untested pharmaceutical called NZT. The magic little pill makes him suddenly the smartest guy in the room. He finishes a novel in a night. He masters multiple foreign languages at record speed. He becomes a financial whiz. Soon, money, power and admiration from men and women alike are his. But what would a thriller be without a chase, and there are bad guys who want what Cooper’s character has found. Eventually (spoiler alert!), we learn that NZT, like other drugs, has its downside.

It may make for a fun movie, but this notion that popping a pill can change your life is a dangerous one. For many, it’s that very idea that led them to addiction. In today’s fast-paced world, it’s easy to understand how someone could go in search of a substance that would ease the pain, slow things down or undo the past. Unfortunately, just like the fictional NZT, substance use only makes you feel better for a while. Eventually, it makes you feel much, much worse. After that, you’re left to clean up the physical and emotional mess it makes.

Prescription Drug Rehab

If you or someone you love is in need of prescription drug rehab, call The Canyon at our toll-free number. Someone is there to take your call 24 hours a day and answer any questions you have about treatment, financing or insurance.