The Pursuit of Oblivion: A Global History of NarcoticsSpanning five centuries and several continents in a sweeping portrait of addiction, The Pursuit of Oblivion traces the history of the use and abuse of narcotics, revealing their subtle transformation from untested medicines to sources of idle pleasure and, relatively recently, to illegal substances. Richard Davenport-Hines, an eminent, prize-winning historian, uncovers the centrality of drug abuse in our modern industrial society, from the drug habits of Charles Dickens and John F. Kennedy to today's $400 billion annual worldwide trade in illicit drugs (the same volume as the oil industry). A vivid portrayal of the people and events that have shaped the history of narcotics, The Pursuit of Oblivion reveals that, contrary to the assumption underlying current drug policies, our need to escape reality and our body's need for physical pleasure are both ineradicable aspects of our humanity, unchangeable by government initiative. |
From inside the book
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Page 15
... European states into adopting these failed tactics , and imposed them in the Third World . In Britain , before 1914 , the supply of drugs was regulated under the Pharmacy Acts , but not severely repressed . When the slaughter began in ...
... European states into adopting these failed tactics , and imposed them in the Third World . In Britain , before 1914 , the supply of drugs was regulated under the Pharmacy Acts , but not severely repressed . When the slaughter began in ...
Page 16
... Europeans ( 18 per cent of those aged fifteen to sixty - four ) have tried cannabis at least once ; 15 million have used cannabis in the past twelve months . • In the European Union up to 5 per cent of people aged sixteen to thirty ...
... Europeans ( 18 per cent of those aged fifteen to sixty - four ) have tried cannabis at least once ; 15 million have used cannabis in the past twelve months . • In the European Union up to 5 per cent of people aged sixteen to thirty ...
Page 17
... Europe involve opiates , often combined with alcohol or tranquillisers . Some European govern- ments report significant numbers of adolescent deaths from inhaling volatile substances , but death from cocaine , amphetamines and ecstasy ...
... Europe involve opiates , often combined with alcohol or tranquillisers . Some European govern- ments report significant numbers of adolescent deaths from inhaling volatile substances , but death from cocaine , amphetamines and ecstasy ...
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Contents
Early History | 21 |
Opium during the Enlightenment | 43 |
The Patent Age of New Inventions | 61 |
Nerves Needles and Victorian Doctors | 99 |
Chemistry | 131 |
Degeneration | 152 |
The Dawn of Prohibition | 195 |
Lawbreaking | 226 |
The First Drugs Czar | 344 |
British Drug Scenes | 368 |
Presidential Drugs Wars | 420 |
So Passe | 475 |
Acknowledgements | 497 |
Notes | 499 |
Bibliographic Note | 549 |
553 | |
Other editions - View all
The Pursuit of Oblivion: A Social History of Drugs Richard Peter Treadwell Davenport-Hines No preview available - 2004 |
The Pursuit of Oblivion: A Social History of Drugs Richard Davenport-Hines No preview available - 2012 |
Common terms and phrases
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