Living with Drugs

by Alessandro Stella, Anne Coppel

Overview

Living with Drugs explores topics surrounding their control, use and risk of misuse. The conclusions in this book are drawn from the seminar held at the EHESS in Paris during the years 2015-2017. It involved anthropologists, sociologists, historians, philosophers, economists, lawyers, doctors, psychiatrists, health center workers, community activists, users and former drug users. The seminar, like the resulting book, is based on a transversal approach to disciplines, space and time, and a confluence of academic, practical and experiential knowledge.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781785483172
Publisher:	Elsevier Science
Publication date:	11/13/2020
Pages:	350
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x (d)

About the Author

Alessandro Stella is Research Director at CNRS and Professor at EHESS, France. Having studied workers’ revolts, slavery and interbreeding, gender relations and sexuality, in recent years he has devoted himself to research in the field of drugs.

Anne Coppel is an activist in drug law reform and human rights. Now retired, she was formerly President of the Association Francaise de Reduction des Risques (AFR), and a public health sociologist with a focus on drug policy, HIV/AIDS and sex workers.

Table of Contents

1. Usual and modern uses of drugs
2. The war on drugs: a humanitarian plague
3. Drugs and morality
4. Live and work with drugs

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

Helps readers understand the use of psychotropic substances in both traditional and modern societies and the consequences of the war on drugs

Editorial Reviews

Reviewer: Carole A. Kenner, PhD, RN, FAAN, FNAP, ANEF (The College of New Jersey)
Description: This book offers a unique perspective on drug use, regulations, and societal drug issues related to drug management policies.
Purpose: The purpose is to present an interdisciplinary approach to research needed to advance society's understanding of historical and modern-day drug use and the consequences of the war on drugs. For the most part, the book meets these worthy objectives.
Audience: Although no audience is identified, the book is appropriate for researchers interested in drug use and addiction, health policy experts, and sociologists.
Features: A historical perspective on drug use and societal acceptance in various cultures provides an interesting context to begin the journey of studying drug use to modern times. A group of chapters depicting the punitive legislation that was enacted to attempt to curtail drug use lays the foundation for understanding the difficulties associated with the criminalization of drugs. Inclusion of street dealers, media representation of drug deaths, and use of psychoactive substances offer insights into how they influence a society's perception of drug use. Finally, a regulatory framework for legalization of cannabis in France presents the pros and cons of such a framework.
Assessment: There are many books on drug use, counterculture drugs, and regulation of drugs, as well as regulations aimed at curtailing illegal drug use, but none present the topic from the perspective of this book. It represents a unique view and includes global examples to illustrate the many facets of drug use.

Doody's Review Service