Pursuit of Oblivion : A Global History of Narcotics 1500-2000

Examines how licit medicines developed into the commodity of a huge illicit bus. Illustrates that intoxication is neither unnatural nor deviant, & describes how for thousands of years human beings have taken substances to change their physical or emotional state. Drug use is a necessary part of human exper., recounting how many drugs that are controlled or prohibited today were freely available until the early 20th cent. Fueled by class antagonisms, fear of crime, & naive idealism, the U.S. gov't. took the global initiative in the drug wars, & launched a forceful -- but counterproductive -- prohibition policy to which the European powers conformed. Will force us to reconsider many of our views on a controversial subject of global importance. Illus.Davenport-Hines, Richard is the author of 'Pursuit of Oblivion : A Global History of Narcotics 1500-2000', published 2006 under ISBN 9781422350256 and ISBN 1422350258.