Customer Reviews

From Chocolate to Morphine: Everything You Need to Know About Mind-Altering Drugs

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1 star:		(4)

 

 

"From Chocolate to Morphine" (2004 edition) attempts to be a basic encyclopedic reference of psychoactive drugs and their uses, whose goal is to provide objective information on the risks and benefits of prescription, over-the-counter, illegal, and natural drugs for a modern audience living in a very drug-soaked society. The authors, Dr. Andrew Weil and Winifred Rosen, are forthright about their perspective: "We cannot say that we have no biases about drugs, but we think that we know what our biases are." They don't generally encourage or discourage recreational drug use. Instead, they repeatedly emphasize the necessity of education and avoiding dependency if one is to use drugs beneficially. I say "generally", because the authors' tone betrays obvious disdain for a few drugs and affection for some others.

The authors outline their viewpoint and purpose in the book's first chapter, where they also offer some rather silly advice to parents, teachers, and teens on communicating about drugs. But the book improves from there. Chapters 2-5 provide basic information: What is a Drug, Why People Use Drugs, Relationships with Drugs, and Types of Drugs. This is followed by chapters on Stimulants, Depressants, Psychedelics, Marijuana, a sort of catch-all chapter on Solvents and Inhalants/Deliriants/PCP and Ketamine, and Medical Drugs/Herbal Remedies/Smart Drugs. The information on each drug is not what I would call complete, and it probably isn't meant to be. Caffeine is handled poorly. Its immunosuppressant, diuretic, and damaging effects on the linings of blood vessels are not mentioned. On the other hand, the cases against tobacco and alcohol may be overstated. The book is very hard on heroin, speaks well of marijuana, but omits glaucoma treatment when discussing medicinal uses. The authors don't like anti-depressants, especially SSRIs. I can't say that I blame them, but, oddly, they are more harsh when discussing antihistamines. Descriptions for each drug contain history and basic information on uses, effects, and dangers. One of the best features of "From Chocolate to Morphine" is the Suggested Reading at the end of each chapter, which provides a list of related books and films for those readers who would like more detailed information.

The final chapters of the book address Problems with Drugs, Alternatives to Drugs, and the authors give us some Final Words on the subject of drug use -including some interesting advice regarding the treatment of drug addiction. The Appendix contains about 40 pages of interesting "First Person Accounts and Comments" on drug use, and is followed by a glossary and an index. Dr. Andrew Weil and Winifred Rosen don't hide their contempt for the current drug hysteria and drug policies in the United States. Nor do they deny how easy it is to become dependent on drugs if they are used carelessly or for the wrong reasons. "From Chocolate to Morphine" isn't a definitive work on psychoactive drugs, but it's a good primer that is easy to read. Those who intend to use any of these drugs on a regular basis will want more detailed information, for which the Suggested Reading sections are excellent guides.

The drug czar would claim this book "sends the wrong message" to kids. Sorry, czar. I disagree. Ignorance is not bliss. Ignorance can kill you. This book gives the facts, not "messages."

The central premise of the book is, "There are no good or bad drugs, only good and bad relationships with drugs." It then goes on to explain the dangers inherent in each drug and how to use the drug responsibly to avoid the dangers and have a good relationship with that drug, if possible.

We already provide that sort of information for alcohol when we say "don't drink and drive" and "don't drink alone," for instance. This book expands that to give guidelines for all the common "recreational" drugs.

For some drugs (e.g., tobacco) it's virtually impossible to have a good relationship with them because they are so addicting. That is all spelled out, and because the book gives clear explanations of WHY certain drugs are dangerous (i.e. why it's very difficult to have a good relationship with them), it becomes, I think, far easier to rationally choose not to use those drugs.

"Just say no" goes only so far. At some point some kids WILL say "yes." What then? This book will give a kid who does experiment much better odds of not doing something really stupid....and possibly, by satisfying a lot of a kid's curiosity about drugs, keep him from experimenting at all.

This book covers almost all the information you could want toknow about mind-altering substances. It includes a history of drugsand drug use. It has user reports, lists side effects, has precautions for would-be users, and offers advice as to the safety of various drugs. There is a section all about WHY people use drugs, as well as suggestions for a sane domestic policy regarding drug use. Dr. Andrew Weil is probably the most respected proponent of homeopathic medicine in the USA. His insights are detailed and while he has a certain political bias in regards to drugs, his advice comes from his extensive experience as a Medical Doctor. I'd give this one an extra star if it were an option. If you're seeking useful info about drugs that is not clouded by anti-drug propoganda or pro-drug mania, then this is the book you need.

This is a book that will probably be damned by the ONDCP, Dare, the Partnership for a Brainfree America and many other anti-drug groups. They will claim that it sends the wrong message and that it might encourage drug use. While it is possible that it will encourage drug use in some persons, it is a vastly informative book about various drugs. It attempts to tell--gasp--dare I say it--the truth. Dr.Weil operates under the assumption that kids and adults need to know the truth. He does not advocate or recommend drugs. He merely tries to follow Joe Fridays advice. Just the facts! Of course, the facts and truth have always run contrary to the War on Some Drugs so this book will come under scrutiny. That is a shame. Parents would do well to read this book to learn about the different kinds of drugs and the effects that they may yield. College students and other adults and teenagers should read it so they can make educated decisions about what they do or do not put into their bodies. I have used this book as a reference book for quite a few years. It has helped me make educated decisions. It also contains a lot of historical information about the use of different drugs in different cultures around the world. Dare to think for yourself: Read this book and learn.

I bought this book for information on the subject upon which i like to study, hallucinogens, specifically tryptamine hallucinogens. Andrew Weil in this book does cover almost every drug, either legal or illegal, and in an unbiased fashion, noting the Pro's and Con's of each drug, namely dependence, affects, pharmacological uses etc.. On each drug, he explains the legality of them, thorougly, and where they fit in to society, which is important that i feel many other authors of the same subject have absent from their works, specifically speaking. One phrase Weil says which i think has immense credibility, is "There is no such thing as a bad drug, just bad relationships with drugs" and this book is riddled with phrases keyed to that effect. It is important to realize that people make decisions based on the basis of the information available to them, and we are in a sitiuation of propaganda, ill information for the reasons clandestine. This book very well puts all cards on the deck, and voices its opinion with no preconceived consequences for the information put forth. This book is up with Food of the Gods - Terence Mckenna and other books which have penetrated the thick barrior of governmental consequences. Highly recommended for those just getting interested in subjects which pertain to altered states of consciousness, student and teacher alike!

As a medical student who plans on working with high-risk adolescents, I felt that I needed to know something about recreational drugs that wasn't being taught to me in school. So I got this book.

While written for lay-people to understand, this well-written and extensively researched piece of work lays out the plain facts about recreational drugs. I like the fact that Weil and Rosen remind us that drugs are not just illegal, but that alcohol, nicotine, chocolate, and caffeine are also recreational drugs.

My only warning is that the book is getting a few years old and recent research (especially on newer drugs like MDMA) is not included in this volume. I strongly caution readers to check more recent literature if they are interested in a specific substance.

This outdated work seems dedicated above all to showing off the cleverness of the primary author (now a famous New Age health guru). It is packed full of arcane trivia on drugs ranging from yopo snuff to toad venom but generally fails to deliver the information that one would need to make rational decisions about substance use.

To be fair, the book is a fun read and full of neat photos and illustrations. But what it's not is a good guide to intoxicating drugs. In particular, the health and neurological effects of numerous drugs are given far too little attention. For example, the section on inhaling gasoline (!) mentions that users should be sure to get plenty of fresh air afterwards and should take care not to inhale while driving (!!!) but does not mention that inhalants cause brain damage and are carcinogenic.

As a long-time opponent of "the War on Some Drugs," I find this book embarrassing. "Illegal Drugs: A Complete Guide to Their History, Chemistry, Use and Abuse" by Paul M. Gahlinger MD is far superior to this book as a source of info, albeit less clever and fun.

This book is amazing. It is very unbiased on the subject of drug use; however, it strongly discourages drug abuse. It merely tells the truth about drugs. The purpose of the book is to educate; if it has any persuasive purpose at all it is to convince the reader to lead a healthy life, drug user or not. I am no longer a daily coffee drinker after one day with this book, and I definitely plan to look into non-drug methods of altering my mind. I have used and enjoyed quite a few drugs before I picked up this book, however, I was badly misinformed about many of them (by the government for the most part). Now I know I can use most drugs and still be as healthy and productive as any non-user. Many will say this book encourages experimentation with drugs and drug use. Even if it did, you may see that possibility as not so bad after reading this book.

user, non-user, whatever the case, get this book out from the library or buy it NOW.

**note** I am not sure that this book has the most updated information on the drug MDMA (ecstasy). I would look elsewhere for info on this particular drug.

To those who have ever searched for a mostly un-biased account of drugs, rather than the typical "Bad, bad, bad" or "Dude... they rule" advice usually given, this book is the closest I've ever seen. I've devoted a plethora of my free time to drug research, legal or otherwise, and this book successfully gives truthful positive and negative aspects of drugs while staying away from misleading stereotypes. Granted, one may argue that it is impossible for a book of this nature to be completely unbiased, to which I would completely agree. But unlike the majority of people taking extremist views on drugs and society, the authors at the very least try to be unbiased. The frank, open attitude this book adopts would educate more people in one reading than lifetimes of high school Health education ever did.

Although Dr. Weil and his co-author claim to be neutral on how they stand with mind-altering drugs, (and do an excellent job at simply presenting the facts without bias or much of their own opinion), I feel they subtly reveal how they truly feel about using them. When I read the facts about these drugs, I finished each chapter feeling like I either never wanted to touch any drug again; or like I wanted to go snort some coke...and that it would be okay as long as I knew what I was doing and knew exactly how the drug would effect me. It was weird because I got mixed signals - not so much by the words, but more so from the manner in which all the information is presented in the book. (The little pictures and quotes by different people were a highlight.) The authors make it seem okay to use drugs, although they never actually state it. While at the same time, they seem somewhat against using them. I didn't say against THEM, I said against USING them. They do say that drugs aren't bad but that people can form bad relationships with drugs. Actually, when I read the chapter on stimulants (particularly about coffee) I felt like a loser for drinking coffee. I had no idea it was so unhealthy. It's not just the caffiene in it people; there's so much more. In fact, I quit drinking coffee partly because of this book and I'm almost free from the addiction now. Interestingly, I didn't realize how addicted I was to coffee until I tried quitting. Yikes. Oh and FYI, if you read any of Weil's other books (which I highly recommend doing), you'll find he's actually very into getting and staying healthy - two things using drugs don't usually help a person do.