Dreamshit

Dreamshit is an addictive, mind-altering substance taken by many residents of New Crobuzon. Several criminal gangs profit from selling the illegal drug.

Effects

The drug produces severe hallucinations within users; these visual and auditory images appear incredibly life-like and can actually represent the dream-states of other people. It's common for dreamshit to cause users to accidentally defecate over themselves, hence the word "shit". These significant hallucinogenic effects are likely what motivated the government to make dreamshit illegal; its usage can pose a danger to other people if used within the wrong circumstances. Users also feel exhausted after taking the drug, so the decrease in productivity could also cause the state to demonise dreamshit.

Economy

Dreamshit is exceptionally popular in New Crobuzon and numerous gangs make a profit from trading the drug. This remains something which the government hopes to prevent in the future, though the pacification of dreamshit may actually placate the populace and make the state's job easier. However, the lack of government intervention in decreasing dreamshit usage may be due to its mass appeal; thousands of people are said to be addicted and taking away their drug may cause resistance and violent opposition to the state. Dreamshit may be "the opium of the people."

Item type

Drug / Narcotic / Medicine