Junk

Junk is the term used in the text for narcotics derived from opium. The text states that junk includes morphine, heroin, Dilaudid, pantopon, codeine, and dionine, among other derivatives. Although not specifically included, paregoric is also a form of junk. Burroughs defines a 'fix' of junk as one-half grain of morphine or the equivalent. Someone who is addicted to junk is said to have a habit and is referred to as a junky.

Habit

Burroughs states that only junk is habit forming and then defines a habit as dependency on junk. He states that an initial habit is only formed after at least a month of daily injections, two months of routine smoking, or four months of daily ingestion of junk. Subsequent habits are developed far more quickly.

Cure

Various methods of overcoming drug addiction are described as a cure; e.g., an addict receives a cure...