That movie made it seem as if Johnny Cash was only on “uppers” and other drugs simply because he couldn’t have June Carter in his life. Was that pretty much the reason for his drug abuse in real life or was it portrayed that way because the movie’s producers wanted to go the “love story” route?
My interpretation from the movie was that the uppers helped him keep up with the grueling road schedule, in addition to helping him deal with June Carter’s rejection. This wikipedia article seems to agree with my interpretation.
Johnny Cash, the son of an alcoholic, was an alcoholic himself. Isn’t that enough reason to drink and drug?
If a person with chemical dependency doesn’t go into remission via some form of intervention and/or treatment, the vast majority of them will continue to use drugs and consume alcohol in an unsafe and compulsive manner for any, and even no reason.
Reading his autobiographies, that’s not the impression one gets. During the fifties, hillbillie folks were rather naive about drugs too. Remember that amphetamine was sold to homewifes to lose weight, and used by american soldiers on manoeuvres – at least that’s how Elvis got hooked, in Germany. He recommended it to everyone he met, enthusiastically, unsuspectingly, as it seems.