The pursuit of intoxification through drugs, according to UCLA psychopharmacologist Siegel, is the "fourth drive," as deep-rooted as our instinctual cravings for food, drink and sex. Therefore, he argues, the war on drugs is doomed to failure; "the answer is to make drugs perfectly safe and unabusable" via clinical and pharmacological research. To arrive at this highly debatable conclusion, Siegel leads readers through obnoxious animal experiments, in some of which hallucinogens are fed to monkeys, alcohol to elephants and hemp seeds to pigeons. His extrapolations from wild animals' consumption of psychoactive plants to people's addictions to drugs are often facile. Although chapters on alcohol, opium, cocaine, cannabis, etc. pack a welter of details, this volume seems suspect in both its theorizing and its interpretation of experiments. Author tour.
Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From School Library Journal
YA-- In the midst of the wealth of books on the horrors of drug abuse, Siegel's effort provides contrast as it studies why humans, and many animals, seek intoxication in one form or another. The first part of the book discusses plant origins for many intoxications, and the effects on wild, domesticated, and caged animals, with some parallels drawn to human behavior. The second part discusses humanity's desire to expand its range of experience. Here Siegel provides a history of drug use and abuse which is most enlightening and includes alcohol and tobacco as abused and dangerous substances. He proceeds to a discussion of modern designer drugs and their effects, and the reasons for their existence and popularity, using examples throughout as well as reports of horror stories from crime annals. He stresses that crimes committed under the influence of drugs are NOT caused by the drug, and that the predisposition to violence exists within some individuals. His history of drugs as they have affected American politics up through the Reagan administration is most insightful, as are his comments on the futility of the anti-drug crusade as it is now waged. His conclusion states clearly that legalization of drugs is not a viable solution. This book challenges the thinking of high school students and puts the subject in a historical context which allows them to begin adult consideration of an age-old problem. The ideas here are not orthodox, but they are thought-provoking.
- Dorcas Hand, Episcopal High School, Bellaire, TX
Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc.
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