Matters of Substance: Drugs--and Why Everyone's a User [Hardcover]

Griffith Edwards (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 031233883X | ISBN-13: 978-0312338831 | Publication Date: October 13, 2005 | Edition: 1st

Why do people, countries, and centuries experience the same drug differently--and how should this affect the choices we make on drug control?

Matters of Substance presents a new and lucid approach to the much-debated questions of drug control around the world. Griffith Edwards argues for a consideration of all drugs--from caffeine to crack--as more than the sum of their chemical structure. He shows that the effect of a drug is just as dependent on the social setting, historical legacy, and psychology of an individual as it is on any inherent quality of the drug.

Attitudes about and control of drugs across the world are explored--from the use of marijuana in Amsterdam to cigarette smoking in the bars of New York. Various uses and abuses of drugs are examined within the web of ideas we hold about personal freedom, the right to pleasure, the responsibilites of government, and the impact of globalization. Authoritative and wide ranging, this book will inform and enlighten all future debates on drugs in society.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Griffith Edwards is perhaps better positioned to write such a book than anyone else on the planet. [A] lively and beautifully written book."--George Vaillant, M.D., Professor of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School
 
"Griffith Edwards is simultaneously open-minded enough to consider every drug policy proposal from outright legalization to draconian prohibition, yet hard-headed enough to find every simple proposal wanting in light of scientific evidence, clinical experience, and the historical record. Experts in the addiction field will recognize the wisdom in these pages; anyone new to the topic could do no better than start their education with this book."--Keith Humphreys, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Psychiatry, Stanford University School of Medicine
 
"Griffith Edwards, a world expert on alcoholism, has studied addiction for more than 40 years and understands the problem intimately. . . . His timely, well-written guide will help many people."--The Independent (U.K.)

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From the Back Cover

Praise for Matters of Substance

"Probably the most sensible and readable book informing drug policy ever written...as useful to lay readers as it is to researchers, clinicians, and policy makers. This is 'drug education' at its best--an extraordinarily well-written book that belongs in high school libraries, on university reading lists across disciplines, on the desks of policy makers, and in treatment centers."
- Constance Weisner, DrPH, MSW, professor of psychiatry, University of California, San Francisco

"An impressive blend of erudition, experience, and common sense...an invaluable resource."
- Marc A. Schuckit, M.D., distinguished professor of psychiatry, School of Medicine University of California, San Diego; director, Alcohol Research Center, VA San Diego Healthcare System

"Experts in the addiction field will recognize wisdom in these pages."
- Keith Humphreys, Ph.D., associate professor of psychiatry, Stanford University School of Medicine

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 352 pages
• Publisher: Thomas Dunne Books; 1st edition (October 13, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 031233883X
• ISBN-13: 978-0312338831
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.8 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,050,020 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars One-sided and ill-informed, January 2, 2006

By 

T. Allen "obsessive reader" (San Jose, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Matters of Substance (Paperback)

In the "war on drugs" most people take one of two fairly radical positions: either drugs are evil and should be completely banned, or are wonderful and don't really do much harm. Both positions are usually very poorly informed. I bought this book hoping to find a well-informed, balanced look at drugs. Unfortunately, this is another poorly informed, biased take by someone who obviously knows little about drugs aside what one could learn from a decent encyclopedia. It is decidedly anti-drug, and completely fails to examine why people would choose to use drugs. Edwards provides plenty of anti-drug statistics, but, when lacking legitimate backing, also reverts to anecdotes and unfounded generalizations to reach his conclusions that governments should do everything in their power to outlaw and discourage use of all drugs excepting caffeine. If you want decent information and any semblance of balance, look elsewhere.

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars It's very helpful to view drugs in ecological terms. Great book., February 23, 2007

By 

Paul Grant "historian-in-training, author, sp... (Madison, Wisconsin, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Matters of Substance: Drugs--and Why Everyone's a User (Paperback)

Matters of Substance is the most insightful book I've ever read on drugs. Edwards never inflames, and never understates. He looks far and wide at many cultures and countries, and never lets popular myths or received attitudes dictate his opinions.

On cannabis, for instance, he stands resolutely against the libertarian stream and points out hypocrisy on the left between nicotine and cannabis attitudes. With cocaine, on the other hand, he lays much of the blame for the epidemic of the 1980s on the medical community, who over-prescribed the drug in powder form in the 50s, creating an environment ready for a designer drug.