Thread by @synonyms26

Compilation of refs to drugs in Penacony and the implications.
Because Li Shaoji actually graduated with a pharmaceutical degree.
Will update with new refs as the Penacony story unfolds.

1. The first drug referenced is Marinol. Marenol the song is referenced by Sparkle trailer Monodrama. Credit: bilibili folks who discovered the ref to Marenol.

2. Marenol is an MV about drug abuse, trigger warning for epilepsy, graphic depiction of deaths and suicide:

3. Marenol is a ref to Marinol (Dronabinol) a synthetic THC that is usually used to treat nausea and anorexia. Its side effects can include euphoria, nausea, somnolence, abnormal thinking, and drug abuse
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK55753…

4. Marenol plot is about a girl who abused Marinol and hallucinated/dreamt about dying before dying for real: reddit.com/r/rhythmgames/…

5. The second drug is Nordazepam, mentioned directly by Li Shaoji in the interview.

6. Nordazepam is a benzodiazepine and a GABA modulator, usually used as a sedative and in treatment of anxiety. Nordazepam is also a metabolite of Diazepam.
pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/nordi…

7. Nordazepam is a depressant, its side effects can include: memory loss, somnolence, euphoria, heightened aggression, heightened risk of suicide, addiction, withrawal syndromes.
So basically Soulglad, Robin's, and Clockie's power.

8. As a whole, Benzodiazepines also show an association to increased risk of dementia: pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22034632/

9. Like the Family selling people Soulglad without any warning about the side effects, Benzo as a drug class has also been rifled with overprescriptions and lack of proper warnings to the patients.

10. Manufacturers of benzo was sued in a class action lawsuit in the UK for this very reason, although the lawsuit went nowhere due to the government withdrawing fundings for the lawsuit: benzoinfo.com/class-action-l…

11. Like how the Family uses Soulglad to keep people in their dreams, Benzo irl also has a history of being the drug of choice in assaults and murders due to its hypnotic and muscle relaxant effects: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benzodiaz…

12. The third drug mentioned is cocaine, mentioned via Coca Cola:
Coca-cola used to be advertised as a tonic to cure all ills and used to actually contain cocaine. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coca-Cola

13. In Penacony, apparently Soulglad is the OG version with the cocaine.

14. In Bocchi’s dialogue and through interactable in the kitchen of the dream hotel, we know that Soulglad was introduced by Sousa to the prison first before the prisoners broke free. The prisoners then got addicted to dreaming instead of slaving away for IPC.

15. In Hanu’s prison break and the book series Hanu’s adventures, IPC then took away the Soulglad to increase efficiency, Hanu (Bloodhound) broke the prisoners out, but an accident happened, and all of the prisoners got dosed in the Soulglad.

16. Presumably, that’s when the Penacony dream started. The Hanu dream bubble stated that it’s an allegory to actual Penacony history, and it’s also consistent with the nursery rhythm as well.

17. There’s actually an interesting quote in the Hanu jailbreak event that I didn’t take screencap of. The quote went sth like the NPC asking us whether we think the prisoners break out for the Soulglad or for freedom. I answered freedom, and that was the wrong choice.

18. On the guy who invented Soulglad, apparently Sousa means Stone. Means Mr. Sousa is Mr. Stone (or Stoned, I guess): en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sousa_(su…

19. Due to the name meaning, Sousa is probably Boss Stone - the croc that got killed by the Clockie/the Watchmaker in the animation and in Hanu’s adventure. Probably an IPC employee.

20. Significantly, Sigmund Freud also suffered from cocaine abuse, and that guy was directly stated to be one of Penacony inspo, so Sousa is likely based on Freud. pbs.org/newshour/show/…

21. The fourth drug ref in Penacony is the heaven and angel theme itself. According to DEA drug slang references, quite a few drugs have names associated with heavens, dust, fairy, angel, white lady, white boy, etc. Cuz high.
nationalpublicsafetypartnership.org/Clearinghouse/…

22. This is also highlighted in the dream syrup description.

23. Sth sth “Religion is the sigh of the oppressed creature, the heart of a heartless world, and the soul of soulless conditions. It is the opium of the people.”

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