From: [f--ca--t] at [primus.paranoia.com] (Foucault) Newsgroups: alt.drugs Subject: A Drug Bibliography v.0.9 Date: 24 Apr 1995 01:31:55 GMT Whats up people. I was looking around the net-resources a while back & noticed that the only bibliography we had (at hyperreal) was a couple years old. So I decided to do my part for the cause & write up my own. All feedback & advice is appreciated. A Pro-User Anti-Prohibition Drug Bibliography. ---------------------------------------------- v.0.9 -- 4/23/85 I started this bibliography for three reasons: 1) to suggest introductory readings on drugs and the contemporary American drug situation, 2) to provide references for a productive drug culture, and 3) to provide a list of basic readings on the political-philosophical aspects of drug use. Each reference is followed by a brief paragraph detailing the contents and approach of the book. I haven't read through all of these books yet, so some of the descriptions are briefer than others. If you feel my description could be better or have references to add to this list, please contact me. Copy & distribute this as you please, as long as you leave it intact. Forward it to your bookstore, to your library, to a teacher/professor, to anyone who wants to start researching drug use and its accompanying issues. ----- Tommy Ranks -- "Friend of a Friend" -- [f--ca--t] at [paranoia.com] ----- Introductory ----------- CORRY, JAMES M. AND CIMBOLIC, PETER, *DRUGS: FACTS, ALTERNATIVES, DECISIONS*. BELMONT: WADSWORTH PUBLISHING COMPANY, 1985. A textbook that tries to reduce drug-use by honestly and unhysterically discussing the effects of drugs and their legal and social status, as well as discussing the reasons people use drugs, and offering alternate methods of reaching altered consciousnesses. A reasonable approach, accentuating the user and the natural desire to achieve altered states of mind. ENGS, RUTH C., *RESPONSIBLE DRUG AND ALCOHOL USE*. NEW YORK: MACMILLAN PUBLISHING CO., 1979. Slightly dated, covers the basic drugs, laws, and physiological actions; includes many figures, diagrams, photographs, and self-examining quizzes. GOSSOP, MICHAEL, *LIVING WITH DRUGS*. ALDERSHOT: ASHGATE PUBLISHING LTD., 1993. Covers the history and effects of the major drugs, discusses "archetypal drugs of abuse", as well as several myths regarding drug abuse. Chapters about the human search for altered experience and the social context of drugs. RAY, OAKLEY, AND KSIR, CHARLES, *DRUGS, SOCIETY, AND HUMAN BEHAVIOR*. SAINT LOUIS: TIMES MIRROR/MOSBY COLLEGE PUBLISHING, 1990. An excellent general overview, covering drug use and regulation, pharmacological basics, in-depth analyses of the legal drugs, tranquilizers and stimulants, narcotics, hallucinogens, and marijuana, and comments on "a rational look at drug use." Well-documented with an abundance of relevant quotes and statistics; a rich set of references follow each chapter. The earlier editions are somewhat dated, but the later ones, especially the 1993 edition, are well-designed for textbook use. STIMMEL, BARRY, *THE FACTS ABOUT DRUG USE: COPING WITH DRUGS AND ALCOHOL IN YOUR FAMILY, AT WORK, IN YOUR COMMUNITY*. NEW YORK: THE HAYWORTH MEDICAL PRESS, 1993. Co-authored by the editors of Consumer Reports Books, this attempts to be a thorough and non-judgmental review of the most commonly used drugs, and their social and physiological effects. Cultural -------- BLUM, RICHARD H. AND ASSOCIATES, *SOCIETY AND DRUGS: DRUGS 1: SOCIAL AND CULTURAL OBSERVATIONS*. SAN FRANCISCO: JOSSEY-BASS, INC., 1970. 132 pages of the history of drugs is followed by a cross-cultural study of drug use styles in non-literate societies, a case study of drinking behavior in Greece, a world view of drug use, some political chapters, the effect of the belief in demons on drug thought today, and the obligatory chapter about hippies. INGLIS, BRIAN, *THE FORBIDDEN GAME: A SOCIAL HISTORY OF DRUGS*. LONDON: HODDER AND STOUGHTON, 1975. The use of drugs alcohol, opium, cannabis, and other drugs through (mostly European) history; the last half of the book focuses on modern Prohibition. Many specific examples of drug-users' contributions to civilization. MCKENNA, TERENCE, *FOOD OF THE GODS: THE SEARCH FOR THE ORIGINAL TREE OF KNOWLEDGE*. NEW YORK: BANTAM BOOKS, 1992. Constructs a unified theory of the spiritual uses of drugs through history. With many illustrations. ZOJA, LUIGI, *DRUGS, ADDICTION, AND INITIATION: THE MODERN SEARCH FOR RITUAL*. BOSTON: SIGO PRESS, 1989. About the way drugs are used/abused as expressions of a need for cultural fulfillment which is not being met today, and which ultimately ends in consumerism. An often overlooked approach. Political/Philosophical ------------------------ BONNIE, RICHARD J., AND WHITEBREAD II, CHARLES H., *THE MARIHUANA CONVICTION: A HISTORY OF MARIHUANA PROHIBITION IN THE UNITED STATES*. CHARLOTTESVILLE: UNIVERSITY PRESS OF VIRGINIA, 1975. An extensive history of the suppression of Marijuana use in the United States, from the turn of the century to the 1970s. DUKE, STEPHEN B. AND GROSS, ALBERT C., *AMERICA'S LONGEST WAR: RETHINKING OUR TRAGIC CRUSADE AGAINST DRUGS*. NEW YORK: G.P. PUTNAM, 1993. Compares the debilitating effect of drug-use on society to the far greater debilitating effects of a "war" against drug-users on society. Begins considering the various forms of legalization. Well-documented. HUSAK, DOUGLAS N., *DRUGS AND RIGHTS*. CAMBRIDGE: CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY PRESS, 1992. Argues for the right of adults to use drugs; begins with medical, legal, and political details, considers drugs and the harm it does to the individuals and to others, finishes by listing the few special cases in which drug use could not be left to a responsible individual (pregnancy, the under-aged.) KLEIN, MARK A. R., *MARIJUANA: COSTS OF ABUSE, COSTS OF CONTROL*. NEW YORK: GREENWOOD PRESS, 1989. A consideration of the effects of illegality on the marijuana market, discussing drug consumption, supply and demand, and the possible effects of legalization. MCCOY, ALFRED W. AND BLOCK, ALAN. A., EDS. *WAR ON DRUGS: STUDIES IN THE FAILURE OF U.S. NARCOTICS POLICY*. BOULDER: WESTVIEW PRESS, 1992. A collection of essays from conferences held in 1990 and 1991: "U.S. Narcotics policy: an anatomy of failure", "International Narcotics Control: Bush's 'other war' --are we winning or losing?", "Failures at Home and Abroad: studies in the implementation of U.S. drug policy", "Reinforcing Poverty: the Bolivian war on cocaine", "Colombia's Cocaine Syndicates", "Honduras, the Contra Support Networks, and Cocaine: how the U.S. government has augmented America's drug crisis", "Drug Lords and Narco-corruption: the players change but the game continues", "CIA Assets and the Rise of the Guadalajara Connection", "A Smuggler's Paradise: cocaine trafficking through the Bahamas", "Heroin as a global commodity: a history of Southeast Asia's opium trade", "Heroin and Highland Insurgency in the Golden Triangle", "Pakistan: the empire of heroin." MILLER, RICHARD LAWRENCE, *THE CASE FOR LEGALIZING DRUGS*. NEW YORK: PRAEGER PUBLISHERS, 1991. After briefly describing the effects of the major drugs, and the impact of the drug user on society, the argument is made that the drug laws filled mostly social and political needs: "Because drug control was not the purpose of the restrictive laws, it is unsurprising that drug use has thrived despite them." Many of the myths surrounding drug use are then dispelled, and past experiences with legalization are studied. A good argument clearly stated. SZASZ, THOMAS, *OUR RIGHT TO DRUGS: THE CASE FOR A FREE MARKET*. NEW YORK: PRAEGER PUBLISHERS, 1992. An excellent introduction to the politics of drug use. Analyses the laws against drugs, the legalization movements, and the American "War on Drugs" from a historical and sociopolitical perspective; argues against both the Prohibitionists and the half-hearted Decriminalizers. Very thorough; good bibliography and references sections. WALKER, WILLIAM O., *DRUG CONTROL IN THE AMERICAS*. ALBUQUERQUE: UNIVERSITY OF NEW MEXICO PRESS, 1989. A in-depth historical look at the political, production and transportation drug issues between the United States of America and Latin America up to the late 1940s, and the cultural differences that contributed to the current situation. ZIMRING, FRANKLIN E. AND HAWKINS, GORDON, *THE SEARCH FOR RATIONAL DRUG CONTROL*. CAMBRIDGE: CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY PRESS, 1992. After some historical and terminology basics, discusses the drug use debate "as a clash of presumptions between an emphasis on liberty and a preference for continuity in social and legal policy." Offers suggestions towards a more rational drug debate, without pretending to give any simplistic answers. Other ----- JULIEN, ROBERT M., *A PRIMER OF DRUG ACTION*. NEW YORK: W.H. FREEMAN AND COMPANY, 1988. Basics on the effects of drugs on the human body, from Psychoactives to Birth Controllers, with many diagrams. RUBIN, VERA, AND COMITAS, LABROS, *GANJA IN JAMAICA: THE EFFECTS OF MARIJUANA USE*. NEW YORK: ANCHOR/DOUBLEDAY, 1976. A classic study, "the first medical anthropological project center on marijuana", many good figures and "inspired" quotations. ----------------- Still working on: more titles, a list of useful mainstream-media references, a list of useful medical-study references. E-mail contributions, suggestions, or advice, to: [f--ca--t] at [paranoia.com] -- Tommy Ranks -- [f--ca--t] at [paranoia.com]