Have you ever wanted to know more about drugs? The book of General drug history by Antonio Escohotado is ideal for you! In the following article, we will present you with a summary along with a review.
General history of drugs
This is a book with the purpose of educating, analyzing the use of drugs and thus justifying their consumption, it was written by the philosopher Antonio Escohotado, considered one of his most significant works, where the main drugs in the world are examined in detail, telling us their history, thus exposing the beginning of what he calls drugs.
The book includes more than three hundred images making this book incomparable in world biography for its accuracy and depth. Published in Spain, being edited and published for the first time 1983.
It has 1542 pages, fifteen editions (the last one published in 2006) and partially translated, some completely into French, English, Italian, Portuguese, Bulgarian and Czech. Very expressive and rigorous language that can be easily read.
It is a book composed of two parts: "The history of drugs" and "a personal essay on various intoxicants"; which makes it an accessible work for those who want to satisfy their intellect with this erudite written presentation.
Summary
The work tells in a specific and definitive way the general history of drugs that was previously published in three separate volumes, in which it also has an appendix of the book "Learning about drugs", which is a manual on stimulants and substances that generate relaxation. , each one its corresponding sections classified between plants / substances: Brief historical recount, dosages and uses plus a description of the experience.
Due to the number of pages that the book has, we can realize at a glance its extensive study on the subject being organized in this way: Plants, substances, uses, position of the authorities, among others.
The book also tells the history of drugs through the different regions, the religions of different countries (Greek, Hindu shamanic), also from the point of view of the great empires, such as Christianity.
In the book, they can be seen listed with a large number of examples, in which the previous contravention towards drugs is shown, such as: Wine terrified the Greco-Roman civilization, so measures were taken to prohibit its consumption.
Another example he mentions is that they mutilated the Russians and Egyptians for drinking coffee. In the same way, it happened with tobacco in Persia and the Paraguayan mate was rejected by the Vatican, being qualified as a satanic vehicle.
Without a doubt, religion is a sensitive issue in this context, but this is usually the most prominent in the public eye, since many doubts and curiosity are generated. The author draws conclusions between two different types of drugs that can be used in rituals to maximize guilt or fear and how they can be misunderstood.
Explaining the first as a mystical banquet that can express the spirit of the faithful and is internalized as a deity. And the other as a physical transfer of evil that forces people to sacrifice themselves for this deity or serve him.
The named investigation gives rise to the prohibitionist era that began in the XNUMXth century, which consequently appeared the "insurgent" movement in the middle of the century and obviously the global repression by the administrations.
It was elaborated from an arduous research work of innumerable sources of stories and resources that form a fairly complete literature, Escohotado masterfully exposes turning a book that many would consider boring into a passionate reading for its intellectuality.
As well as being utterly enjoyable, it has excellent writing and vocabulary combined with a highly original and addictive style that make the good reader's experience thought-provoking.
At the consumer's choice, this work can be read in its entirety or skipped to the chapters that are most interesting, since it offers an extensive cross-index in which all the topics it covers can be clearly seen.
It contains some innovative references to the foot of the page that the author leaves us and possibly for the reader to be very pleasant, since it will allow to vary and discover new readings from this one that can satisfy the curiosity about the subject.
The appendix that contains the book Learning from drugs, is supposed to be a kind of manual that accurately helps to cautiously approach the use of different psychoactive substances, both vegetables and active ingredients. The historical part is less extensive and refers to a brief introduction to various hallucinogens and, at the same time, invites them to use them responsibly.
It has a large amount of universal history in its duly organized pages that raises awareness, closes myths and opens the eyes of those who read it, as well as imminently facilitating consultation without being judged.
At the end of the book, it represents an analysis of different drugs available so that the reader can take this information into account, if he so wishes. The book rigorously specifies the following points:
- active dose.
- Median lethal dose.
- Specific tolerance factor.
- Dosage and minimum time required.
- organic effects.
- psychological effects.
- Small doses.
- Medium dose.
- High doses.
- specific contradictions.
- Ways to immediately treat acute intoxications or paranoid trances.
- Toxicity of the most common substitutes at each time and place.
Review
In a world full of erroneous accusations and misunderstandings, the work of Antonio Escohotado, General History of Drugs, comes to the fore, since it has the additional purpose of dispelling the negative connotation that we give to the word "drug".
What gives it a bit of romanticism and susceptibility is the fact that the author wrote this magnificent work behind bars in prison for being unjustly accused of drug trafficking.
Generally, it is mistakenly understood by supporters of drug legalization, that they are irresponsible human beings, without a promising future, hippies, or morally depraved. General History of Drugs, overcomes that stereotype that many people have created mentally.
Giving the example of the jurist author, philosopher, sociologist and also professor of science methodology at the UNED, then the explicit History of drugs throughout history breaks the manifesto of a subject not properly addressed by people.
Clearly the book does not seek the repulsion of people closed to the subject, in order to educate and bring an open opinion to the world conquered by morality and religious and political influences. This work shares with it a thread of scientific reasoning, where it has a hidden universe and diplomatic and pharmaceutical influences.
The work does not allow confusion on both sides, but the compression of this and its alternatives. Today the government is in charge of protecting us from addictive and toxic drugs, but they also try to protect consumers and those to whom they are exposed.
They also try to avoid the loss of judgment of emotionally unstable people, because they are sensitive to falling into toxic environments, which in the future can cause irreversible damage.
Governments are concerned about these events, since any circulating brain protein that causes the slightest toxic reaction for the body and human stability, is an incessant alarm. However, there are many substances that are considered medicinal and safe for human consumption, but even so, there is a disparity among scientists on this subject.
Possibly, this is a book that breaks down many of these prejudices or it can invite us to do our own analysis about the advantages and disadvantages of drugs, the important factor being understanding how they work.
As we read this work we will find real opinions, which do not usually come to light, possibly a universe of scientific thinkers and professionals will be discovered who will describe everything as it really is.
A very marked example is aspirin, which can be fatal for an adult from three grams. Like this substance we give it multiple uses and we cling to it even for a headache believing that it is harmless, but the truth is that it is a circulating and legal drug, it does not make it less toxic.
This does not mean that it does not help us, but it is necessary to take into account these clarifications that the book provides correctly and completely. It definitely manages to give a very well structured study to perfect an idea about drugs without alarmist actions or prejudices to science or stereotypes.
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Author
Antonio Escohotado Espinoza is a Spanish philosopher, jurist, essayist and also a university professor, who created different works based on his opinion and research about law, philosophy, and sociology, in which he has faced a variety of controversial issues.
His greatest work and a worldwide known fact was his analysis of drugs in which he reflects his position as an anti-prohibitionist, which led him to be recognized for his libertarian affirmation, as a confrontation with fear or the situations to which beings are subjected. humans.
We invite you to watch the following video so you can learn a little more about the opinions of this author: