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MOST OF WHAT YOU KNOW ABOUT ADDICTION IS WRONG IBD

SPEAKING TIGER BOOKS
05 / 2023
9789354474651
Inglés

Sinopsis

In Most of What You Know About Addiction is Wrong, distinguished psychiatrist AnirudhKala debunks common myths on the largely misunderstood topic of addiction.The book introduces readers to the ways in which humankind has been engagingwith addictive substances over time and our complicated ongoing relationshipwith them.Beginning with the early humans and the formation of their bonds with mindaltering substances, it goes on to share a comprehensive account of the use ofvarious substances in India with a special focus on Punjab. In the late 80s, drugaddiction peaked in Punjab and it continues to be a major public health concerntoday. The book closely examines the links between addiction and the social andeconomic changes plaguing the state, urging policy makers and law enforcementto stop viewing addiction through a moralistic prism and to adopt a more holisticand scientific approach to manage it.Both the history and the science of addiction are explained in an easy-to-read,accessible style. The nature-versus-nurture debate about the origins of addictionalso feature prominently in the book. The benefits of decriminalization andlegalization of addictive substances, which countries like Portugal have achievedthrough pragmatic initiatives are substantiated with ample data. Statistics aboutthe number of people using drugs or affected by addictions are not just quoted,readers are shown how to derive meaning from this data.Most of What You Know About Addiction is Wrong sends out a set of well-researched,informed and timely messages about how mature societies should be handlingaddictive drugs. This makes the book essential reading for policy makers,politicians, health professionals as well as general readers everywhere.