How we cite our quotes: (Part.Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #4
They are hard, weathered, worn-out and desperate. Intimidating and thuggish, addicted and insane. They are all different and they are all the same and as I sit there smoking my cigarette, they scare the living shit out of me. (1.4.258)
James believes that addiction reduces everyone to the same level, but we're not sure if he's scared of these people because they are him or because he somehow thinks they're scarier than he is… even though they're all on the same level.
Quote #5
I feel good again, perfect, magnificent and invincible, like the power of every orgasm I've ever had, could ever have and will ever have has been concentrated into a single moment. (1.6.6)
Now we have a good idea why James does drugs, and keeps doing drugs, over and over again. He's trying to escape into an intense feeling that, once had, is hard for him to live without, even on a day-to-day basis.
Quote #6
The divisions among the men are not made by class, but by drug of choice. Drunks sit together, Cokeheads sit together, Crackheads sit together, Junkies sit together, Pillpoppers sit together. (1.8.105)
Well, that's one way to divide people up. Instead of prison, where people might group up together by race, people in rehab seem to group up together depending on whatever drug they're trying to get off of.