Dead Med

The recurring presence of drugs and pills is a central motif that embodies the desperation, corruption, and dangerous shortcuts endemic to the DeWitt environment, giving rise to its nickname, “Dead Med.” This motif illustrates how characters respond to the theme of The Destructive Power of Academic Pressure. The pills represent a perilous solution to an overwhelming problem, a way to artificially enhance performance or escape from stress. From the seemingly benign caffeine tablets Phil offers Heather to the amphetamines that caused Darcie Peterson’s fatal overdose, the motif highlights a spectrum of desperation. Heather herself contemplates turning to pills when she feels she is failing, showing how quickly the pressure can push a student toward a dangerous path.

The constant discussion of past overdoses creates an atmosphere of lurking danger, suggesting that failure at DeWitt is potentially fatal. Rachel Bingham underscores this systemic issue when she observes, “Three students in three years got their hands on enough pills that they accidentally died. Someone is giving them those pills” (18). Her comment frames the drug problem as a symptom of a corrupt system with a hidden source. The revelation that this source is Dr. Patrice Winters, the wellness counselor, underscores the institution’s deep hypocrisy, connecting the motif to The Corrupting Influence of Secrets and Deception.

McFadden further develops this motif through the characters’ use of prescribed medication. Sasha Zaleski’s secret drugging of Mason Howard with her late father’s medication exemplifies the theme of Ambition as a Catalyst for Moral Decay. While Sasha attempts to justify her actions, reflecting the effects on Mason’s cognitive functioning will be minor, her recollection of her father’s horrific hallucinations highlights her knowledge that the drugs can cause serious harm. The novel emphasizes Sasha’s warped moral compass as she utilizes the pills that were an essential part of her father’s care as a weapon to sabotage a rival. Drugs are also employed to illustrate character in the portrayal of Dr. Matt Conlon. Rachel’s discovery of powerful prescribed painkillers and antidepressants in Matt’s medicine cabinet indicates the lasting effects of the shooting he survived in medical school. While Matt maintains a cheerful façade, his medication reveals the chronic physical and psychological pain he continues to experience.