Product Description

Despite great public interest in the use and abuse of psychoactive substances this is the first comprehensive and reliable book on this fascinating and controversial topic. The encyclopedia covers the entire range of naturally occurring psychoactive species, and also a great number of man-made synthetic drugs and compounds. It explores the use of intoxicating plants by Neanderthal man through to the role of hallucinogens and narcotics in contemporary youth culture. It provides basic details on the botany and chemistry of intoxicants, and examines their influence at all levels of our culture and society. The book also tackles controversial issues such as legalisation and details the legal classification of illicit substances alongside additional relevant information on detection, prevention, punishment and other criminological subjects.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #802146 in Books
• Published on: 1999-07-22
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 313 pages

Review
'Fascinating' LOADED '... tobacco, ground beetles, glue, coffee, Prozac and so on ... Rudgley concentrates with startling results, on the history of the use of such substances' GUARDIAN 'a enjoyable anthology of drugs, from opium and LSD to giraffe livers.' MARIE CLAIRE 'Fascinating' NEW SCIENTIST 'Engrossing and scholarly ... full of arcane and fascinating material' Hanif Kureishi, MAIL ON SUNDAY

Hanif Kureishi, MAIL ON SUNDAY
'Engrossing and scholarly ... full of arcane and fascinating material'

ANDREW WEIL
'Vibrant ... a hugely illuminating educational trip'

Customer Reviews

An entertaining quick reference guide to almost every drug
This isn't drug use manual, you won't any notes on the preparation and dosage of any of the substances in the book. However as a quick reference guide to the history and customs surrounding any number of obscure and not so obscure drugs it is invaulable. In it you will find anything from the potential of the goat fish to cause nightmares to the history of glue sniffing and an analysis of our habitiual use of caffiene.

Rudgely does't make any judgements as to the morality of drug use, instead he presents the simple facts whilst avoiding anthropological jargon. The one glaring omission is alcohol which only recieves a passing reference but the book doesn't suffer for it. Well worth a read for anyone with more than a passing interest in the subject be they parents, users or anthropolgy students.