After reading comments to a certain work of fiction published here I was surprised to discover strong negative reaction to smoking of the protagonist. (personally, I found this part a nice touch as far as its literary qualities) Thus for my fiction-writing purposes I would like to know:
What is the general stance on drug usage in fiction?
Smoking marijuana
Using psychedelic substances
Using unidentified or fictional substances of supposedly psychoactive nature, but with their full effect or social status unmentioned.
I do not think there is a "general stance" on drug usage. Further, tobacco is not a general drug (there's no such thing) but a specific well-known drug with a specific history. I would not expect reactions to tobacco smoking in fiction to be reflections of general stances on drug use.
What I read in the reaction to Hanna's smoking is specifically that, today and to some readers, smoking seems ① self-destructive and ② odious; and furthermore ③ signals unsympathetic or disfavored character tropes.
First, because we know so well today that tobacco s...
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