On 1/11/2011 8:11 AM, dave wrote:
Nothing happens in a vacuum. This guy was crazy for years,
something put him over the edge last fall. He went from "Alice in
Wonderland" to "Full Metal Jacket" in whiplash inducing time.
What was the catalyst?

On 01/11/2011 05:29 AM, Joe from Kokomo wrote:

Well, he may -not- have been "crazy for years". By all current
accounts, he was more or less "normal" -- good student, good
grades, participated in extracurricular activities like band.

Then he got on drugs and everything seemed to go down hill from
there.

So maybe drugs is the answer to your "catalyst" question.

On 1/11/2011 11:50 AM, dave wrote:

One out of 3 people his age use drugs...

THAT doesn't say too much for our country in my book.

...I don't think that's it (although if you are psychotic they don't
help).

You just don't know that. Some "designer" drugs can cause organic
changes in the brain; witness "The Addict Who Froze" (or similar name)
on PBS several years ago. (a botched batch of a 'designer' drug killed a
certain type of brain cell, inducing a severe, incurable case of
Parkinson's in the "lucky" drug user).

1) He [Loughner] appeared to be a relatively clean-cut kid.
2) He started taking drugs.
3) Everything (grades, friends, social interactions, etc) went to hell
right after that.

Coincidence? NOT!