Between risks and realities: the best books on drugs
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), drugs are "any substance with the potential to prevent or cure a disease." However, in colloquial slang, this term is used to refer to psychoactive substances, and more specifically, illegal drugs, which are typically consumed non-therapeutically, self-administered, and for the purpose of experiencing pleasure.
The problem with this term being used in both contexts is the fine line between what is legal and what is illegal. At the same time, The production and consumption of illicit drugs causes the movement of an entire deregulated market, an environment where the lives of millions of people are in danger every day. To learn more, here's a list of the best books on drugs.
But first, a little context
The origin of mass drug use
Drugs have always been part of human reality. Since time immemorial, The priests of various tribes used them to reach altered states of consciousness, reach the spirits, and communicate with their ancestors. However, the drugs we know today were first implemented in clinical settings, where they were used to treat a wide variety of symptoms.
Drugs such as opium, marijuana, cocaine, MDMA, and LSD remain part of the psychiatric arsenal, but their use outside of this setting remains illegal. However, There are other substances, such as coffee, alcohol or nicotine, which are regulated and legally supplied. to the world's population. This behavior raises a question: what are the criteria for a ban?
On the true criteria for drug prohibition
Being that Alcohol, tobacco, coffee and sugar are equally addictive and harmful to humans. For example, heroin and cocaine. Why do the former enjoy standardization, while the latter are relegated to illegality? Without wishing to defend any consumption that generates addiction or discomfort, it's necessary to emphasize that the criteria that keep hard drugs in the dark are not health-related, but rather political and social.
Here we could cite the case of marijuana, which was criminalized in the US largely due to racist campaigns associated with Mexican immigrants and African-American communities. On the other hand, Opium was banned in the late 19th century in Western countries, to a certain extent, due to tensions with Chinese immigrants.
In summary: Some legal drugs such as alcohol and tobacco have an established market and generate taxes for governments. They are dangerous and addictive, but they are regulated because they represent a source of revenue. In contrast, other drugs that are not under state control—such as cocaine or heroin—are seen as threats to that same control.
Best books on drugs
All about drug use and its health consequences, how to overcome drug addiction: how to overcome addictions (2022), by Angus Miller
Drug addiction is often treated as a disease. This occurs because an addicted person lacks full self-awareness and is unable to care for themselves or protect others. Similarly, A human being who suffers from an addiction usually loses his jobs, loved ones and, in general, the direction of his own existence.This book seeks to help individuals and families escape the grip of addiction.
In its pages you can find titles such as "All about drug use and types", "Health Consequences," "How to Tell if a Person Is Addicted to Drugs," "How Drugs Affect Teenagers," or "Overcoming Drug Addiction." The first step in solving a problem is recognizing the difficulty at hand, as the author affirms.
General history of drugs (1999), by Antonio Escohotado
This is a monumental work that explores the relationship between human beings and psychoactive substances from ancient times to the contemporary era. Antonio Escohotado, Spanish philosopher and sociologist, offers a comprehensive analysis covering historical, cultural, medical and political aspects of drugs, moving away from the moralistic clichés that have dominated official discourse.
Throughout the book, Escohotado documents the ritual, medicinal and recreational use of these substances in different civilizations —from shamanic cultures to modern pharmacology—and highlights how perceptions of drugs have been shaped more by social and political control than by scientific criteria.
The power of addictions (2024), by Pedro Tomás Martínez and Mari Carmen Tomás Martínez
This is an essay that addresses the principles of addiction, covering theoretical, personal, and practical aspects. The elements that make up the work help the reader understand the phenomenon of addiction., from the etymology of the term to the recovery paths a person can follow who wants to leave the world of drugs. The document includes research and testimonies.
This text has become a valuable resource, both for people directly affected by addictions and for professionals who dedicate themselves every day to providing help to addicts and their families. It's no secret that the healing process tends to be painful and distressing, but Having tools makes it a little more digestible.
Guide to the evaluation and treatment of addictions (2017), by P. Levounis and, E. Zerbo
This is a guide designed for professionals, regardless of their level of training, to treat patients with addiction. Its content is divided into three main sections: Addiction Basics, Substances and Behaviors, and Treatment. In them, the authors address topics such as "The Neurobiology of Addiction" and "How to Recognize and Treat Intoxication, Withdrawal, and Addiction to Substances Such as Alcohol."
Likewise, The book proposes solutions to treat addictions to steroids, anabolic androgenic steroids, Benzodiazepines, cannabis, opiates, stimulants, and tobacco, as well as hallucinogens, inhalants, and caffeine. There are also specific chapters on medical and psychiatric comorbidities in specific vulnerable communities.
