In the labs, Rushfeather had been excellent at getting drunk. It was a finely-honed skill to obtain enough morphine to do it - and to judge how much would get you drunk without killing you or tipping off the scientists. He had been the best at it, out of everyone.

Out here - you could get drunk on anything. Alcohol, safer drugs - even sugar.
Only they did it differently, and his judgement was off.

Rushfeather was exceedingly, exceedingly drunk.