In his book, Forces of Habit: Drugs and the Making of the Modern World, David ... ... of History at the ... of North Florida, tells "the story of ... ... It is Co In his book, Forces of Habit: Drugs and the Making of the Modern World, David Courtwright, Professor of History at the University of North Florida, tells "the story of psychoactive commerce." It is Courtwright's theme that psychoactive drugs - both legal and illegal - are commodities, like bread or cloth. They are manufactured, packaged, distributed, marketed and used much like any other commodity. They go in and out of public favor and new and improved products are constantly being introduced. Throughout human history, governments had generally treated drugs like any other commodities. Prior to the Twentieth Century opium, coca, and cannabis were all legally available in the form of patent medicines that were widely and casualty used in both the United States and Britain.Courtwright divides his book into three sections, with some overlap in content between sections. The first (titled "The Confluence of Psychoactive Resources") describes the way drugs, having originally been geographically confined, entered the stream of global commerce. He compares the history of drugs to the history of infectious diseases in that travel and transport were the variables that influenced the spread of both. Alcohol, tobacco and caffeine (the "big three") and opium, cannabis, and coca ("the little three") all owed their success, he claims, to the expansion of oceangoing commerce. In the second section ("Drugs and Commerce") Courtwright takes up the issue of drugs as medical and recreational products. Section three ("Drugs and Power") discusses pressures and developments that influenced governments to discard the centuries old policy of a taxed, legal drug commerce in favor of restriction and, in some cases, even prohibition. Not surprisingly, he concludes that this happened "because it served the interests of the wealthy and powerful," but he seems to largely overlook the important role that racism played in motivating prohibition.Despite the evident failure of drug prohibition in the U.S. and elsewhere, Courtwright endorses the continuation of supply-side strategies. He insists that drugs will be abused wherever they are available, and that efforts must therefore focus on reducing supply. "The task now," he writes, "is to adjust the system." But his optimism about making prohibition work seems perfunctory. Throughout this book, Courtwright paints a gloomy view of the drug problem that is likely to convince the reader that no adjustments to the system will cut off the supply of drugs. There is much to be gained from reading this book whether you accept the author's policy conclusions or not.Forces of Habit: Drugs and the Making of the Modern World by David T. Courtwright. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 2001. http://commonplacebook.tripod.com/home/id20.html Source: Free Articles from ArticlesFactory.com .
Top blog stories
A review of Idmobile.com
Idmobile.com offers both pay-as-you-go and contract plans. Pay-as-you-go plans are ideal for customers who don't want to be tied down to a long-term contract, and they can purchase bundles of data, minutes, and texts as and when they need them.
Idmobile.com offers both pay-as-you-go and contract plans. Pay-as-you-go plans are ideal for customers who don't want to be tied down to a long-term contract, and they can purchase bundles of data, minutes, and texts as and when they need them.
AO.co is a trusted expert in TVs, washing machines, clothes dryers and other household appliances. AO.com is one of the largest retailers in the UK and it specializes in electronics, clothes and home furniture.
At Three, we believe phones are good. They just make life better. Easier. And more fun. But
we all need to find a balance that works for us. Our mission is to help our customers use
their phones to live their best lives.
We make your life easier
Since 1992, we’ve been helping customers get the best deal on their dream phone. We firmly believe in giving you the highest quality, for the lowest price. That’s why we work with three of the UK’s leading networks to do all the haggling for you,...
At Halfords, we're all about the journey. With more than 700 stores with over 10,000 colleagues, we're the UK's leading retailer of automotive and cycling products. We are also the leading operator in MOT, tyres, car servicing and car repairs - pleasing more than 750,000 customers every year.
It's important to us that everyone gets great customer service and can enjoy our products, no matter their level of sight. So, if you're blind, partially sighted or struggle to see or read the screen, we’ve a range of features to help you get the most from our products and...
Look iconic, without the hassle— using Nasty Gal discount codes, you can shop your favorite pieces for way less by simply entering one of our promotional codes (of your choice) at the checkout. From delivery offers, to promo deals, we keep ‘em coming, so you always have the offer you...
The Covid-19 has caused the school and universities to shut down around the world creating a major issue in Learning and Education. As this virus spreads through the interaction and if social distanci... The Covid-19 has caused the school and universities to shut down around the world creating a major...
Why its Important to Manage Your Holiday Calendars?
A printable calendar 2021 is a prominent online platform where you download printable calendars of your choice. These calendars can be customized as per our client requirement with photo, text, logo, or any other image. If you are thinking of planning a dream vacation tour with family and kids but...
Not all jobs will require the default concrete slab size, so you will need to either cut the concrete or manipulate it in some way. That's where concrete cutting Sydney come into play. They are very ... Not all jobs will require the default concrete slab size, so you will...
The mechanical seal is one of the most important components of a pumping system. It forms a barrier and prevents leakage. Any pumping system would need a mechanical seal to prevent leakage. As the name suggests, a seal forms a barrier between the motor and the spiral curve protecting the...
We have to understand the process of oversize freight shipping before shipping the oversize freight. The challenge which is faced in your area are not to be ignored it may cause you the late delivery or some very costly mistakes. To help you to prevent this mistake, here's a brief...
The planet of love - Venus is quite important in Astrology. Read on here to unlock the detailed information behind the planet Venus. The planet of love - Venus plays a key role in astrology. According to Vedic astrology, this planet is considered a crucial factor in an individual’s love...
BombSquad, Terraria, and Spaceteam are probably your best bets out of the 22 options considered. "Fun party game mechanics makes this a great game to play at gatherings" is the primary reason people pick BombSquad over the competition. Gaming is really fun, and if you are a gamer, you know...
Back in ’80, the job was few and entrepreneurial opportunities scarce. For a young man who wanted additional income to support a growing family, it meant working harder and being enterprising. Pradip Nalawade jumped into the insurance business and started NIC as a source of additional income but soon realized...
Residential Interior Designers in Mumbai at Delcon Design Company is the Interior Designers in Mumbai & Best Interior Designers in Mumbai that create spaces that reflect your taste & personality. Delecon Design company is among the most sought best Interior Designers in Mumbai. We are renowned for our state of...
Crystal healing is an ancient tradition that occurred from the Egyptians to the Romans through numerous civilisations. With such an old craft, you wouldn't expect everyone to be able to learn it now. Crystal healing is an ancient practice that existed across different civilizations from the Egyptians to the Romans....
LIC’s Jeevan Umang plan offers a combination of income and protection to your family. This plan provides for annual survival benefits from the end of the premium paying term till maturity and a lump sum payment at the time of maturity or on death of the policyholder during the policy...
They may not last for long days, but will surely delight the recipient and make them realize the depth of your love for them. This year, make your gifting gesture more thoughtful by sending a beautiful combo of blooms and cakes via online cake and flower delivery. Sending this fantastic...
Search topic
Best 5 Online Cake And Flower Delivery for Girls
They may not last for long days, but will surely delight the recipient and make them realize the depth of your love for them. This year, make your gifting gesture more thoughtful by sending a beautiful combo of blooms and cakes via online cake and flower delivery. Sending this fantastic...