Over 60,000 people died of Narcotic Overdose in the year 2016. Many of such addictions start from the careless pursuit of euphoria that spirals out of control, as their American Dream morphs into a constant perusal of a stronger high. Yet, is the American Dream itself really any different from a Narcotic? The character of Jay Gatsby is the perfect example of what happens when the American Dream goes from an outlook on life to an obsession. Jay Gatsby seemingly has achieved everything, going from an unsuccessful working class family, to a millionaire known for his parties. Yet even after all he has accomplished, he still desires more and more. This begs the question as to what does one want when they have everything? The answer, at least according to Jay Gatsby, is to change his own history. The evolution of Gatsby’s desires show that Fitzgerald believed the American Dream could easily become addicting. Analyzing Gatsby’s progressive desires, from wanting wealth, to wanting Daisy, to wanting to change his entire past, shows how the American Dream can become much like a drug, corrupting the mind, and creating constantly stronger cravings leading to an inevitable overdose. Throughout the novel the narrator, Nick Carraway, slowly becomes more acquainted with the elusive millionaire, learning not only his hopes and desires, but his past as well. While discerning through many “speculations” about Gatsby’s past (even the story Gatsby had emphasized was his “true” upbringing), Nick