Steal This Urine Test: Fighting Drug Hysteria in America (Paperback)

by Abbie Hoffman (Author), Jonathan Silvers (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
Former Yippie Hoffman (Steal this Book, Square Dancing in the Ice Age) examines drug testing in political, social and legal contexts while shattering myths about drug use and abuse. Instead of funding rehabilitation programs, Hoffman contends, the government mainly engages in "propaganda ploys" that neither help nor educate. Discussing misconceptions about urine testing and apparent violations of constitutional rights, he provides up-to-date information on the reliability of testing procedures and points out how lab errors are made. He challenges "bladder cops," takes readers on a field trip through a urinanalysis lab and instructs in how to beat the test. While Hoffman holds attention throughout with puns ("mind over bladder"), anecdotes and satirical writing ("golden showers come your way"), it is the extensive, in-depth research and a barrage of facts and figures that make this the definitive guide to the current drug-testing environment.
Copyright 1987 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal
One's initial reaction may be to dismiss Hoffman's latest j'accuse as more establishment-bashing by the Peck's Bad Boy of the left. But beyond the arch title and cutesy phrases (e.g., "bladder spies"), the book raises legitimateand disturbingquestions about the rush to drug testing in the United States. Specifically, Hoffman provides concrete and sometimes detailed documentation to support his contention that such testing is scientifically unreliable and constitutionally indefensible. All but the smallest libraries should acquire this book, which offers a thoughtful dissenting opinion on a subject of a great importance. Kenneth F. Kister, Pinellas Park P.L., Fla.
Copyright 1987 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 272 pages
• Publisher: Penguin (Non-Classics) (October 6, 1987)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0140104003
• ISBN-13: 978-0140104004
• Product Dimensions: 7.6 x 5 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #141,835 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Steal This Review!, July 25, 2002

By	Scorpio69 (Hawaii, America's Paradise) - See all my reviews

This book should be required reading for all of those video-numbed and propaganda-filled young minds who came of age during or after the dark era of Ronald Reagan and Ed Meese, for whom urinating in a cup in order to get a job is "normal". Abbie gives us the real history of this insanity and solid information on the shortfalls of such testing, along with some practical advice on how to get around the lifestyle police. A great book by a great American!

11 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Very helpful information to see how tests are avoided., February 3, 1998

By	[e-mail] "djm2018" (Southern California) - See all my reviews

Hard to rate! As a substance abuse professional who has been doing drug testing for well over 25 years, I find this book helpful to find games people play to avoid detection. I use it heavily when doing training to show students what their clients learn from the "underground." One problem with the details is its lack of accuracy. His philosophy overrides his sense of science. The book goes far to point out a serious weakness in the collection process. That we do not do observed testing in the workplace places us in a position of testing stupidity rather than drug abuse.

8 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars one of abbie's best books yet., August 29, 1997

By A Customer

I quote Abbie's research in this book everywhere I go. A good paraphrase to preface EVERY utterence is "no one would go to a doctor who simply said, 'Rest, vitamin-C and apple juice,' unless s/he also ordered the patient SOME kind of prescription. A magic pill." -abbie badly paraphrased by the prime anarchist, his humble nephew and "servant-to-cause."