Do you think this isn't common? It's still done today by lots of people, and back then the bad side effects weren't even known.
Fear and Loathing is the beeeeest. When Raoul is typing about the lost hippie wave towards the middle the whole implications of the movements of the 60s really shine from the movie. I do agree that it exaggerates drugs, but the two crazy dudes are stock characters. It's a comedy after all. I luv the way these stereotypes gets away with everything as they trip around in Las Vegas. The way everyone seems oblivious to their madness. And there's a truth in it - people who don't do drugs can not comprehend the world we're living, for better or for worse. It's two seperate worlds.