The Power of the Drug

     In the book Three Days Road we hear that Xavier has an addiction to morphine. This seems odd because he is so against it when Grey eyes is addicted to it, and when Elijah is in need of it. We know he loses his leg in the war but we do not hear how yet. We know that Elijah gets killed and has tried the morphine on his trip to the war. Xavier doesn't like what the drugs do to people and believes it fogs their mind. Xavier is battling Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and many times when this happens the people turn to drugs and or alcohol. "Many people suffering from post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or operational stress injuries (OSI) also face the added challenge of an addiction. In fact, 36% to 52% of PTSD sufferers also abuse alcohol. Research also indicates that 34.4% of those with PTSD also had a substance use disorder." (Addictions and Mental Health Ontario) This tells me that Xavier isn't just addicted to morphine he is using it as a coping mechanism for his PTSD. Seeing the things he saw in the war will affect him the rest of the life how he copes with it is the question. He will have to ask himself to start getting back to a norm.I don't think Xavier is an addict just because he can be one, but an addict because it numbs his mental and physical pains.