How does the motion picture, Trainspotting, portray drug culture?

Overall, Trainspotting shows drug culture at its worst and fails to glamorize the use of drugs. As mentioned, critics of Trainspotting have certainly argued that the film's cinematography can make drugs look enticing. However, any promise of drug-induced glamour is cut short once things begin to go terribly wrong in the lives of the film's characters. First, the baby in the apartment dies without anyone noticing for hours, or perhaps even days. Once this tragedy occurs, everyone begins to use drugs more heavily and the viewer is shown additional negative effects of drug use. Later, Renton's drug habit lands him in the hospital, forcing his parents to take care of him so that he will stop using drugs.

Although Renton's life in London may not be glamorous either, at least he is clean there. He lives a normal existence as a upstanding citizen until he once again meets up with his old cronies, particularly Begbie, who is the primary "bad guy" in the film. Begbie's drug addiction drives him to hurt everyone around him and causes problems for Renton and the others. Each time a tragic or violent incident occurs and every time Renton's life is nearly overtaken by the drug culture again, the true effects of drugs are revealed in an unglamorous light.