Memoirs of an Addicted Brain: A Neuroscientist Examines His Former Life on Drugs

...

From the beginning of this course, all the information provided on how drugs are produced and used has been very enlightening. Before commencing this subject, there were several theories that were unknown and unheard of, and this lack of understanding was seen through the learning of different aspects of drugs other than the pharmacological characteristics that influenced one’s effect on drugs. This knowledge was gained through understanding how the society and the political economy influence the production of substances. Moreover, the introduction of new conceptions such as social controls (rituals and sanctions) and the different perspectives on drugs also contributed in the improvement of the understanding of the main drug-related problems. The knowledge gained throughout this course can be seen through this essay. The guest speakers, lectures and the readings have helped tremendously with the research of the use of illicit substances within the social and health context. With all these discoveries, it is evident that even with the gazetting of more drug policies in the future, the drug market will continue to survive.

References

National Illicit Drug Strategy - Tough on Drugs 1997 (Austl.).

National Institute of Drug Abuse (2015). Heroin. Retrieved May31, 2016, from

http://www.drugabus e.gov/drugs-abuse/heroin

Parrott, A., Morinan, A., Moss, M., & Scholey, A. (2004). Principles of drug addiction.

Robson, P. (1999). Forbidden drugs (2nd ed.). UK: Oxford University Press.

Social Alliance (2013). Drugs. Retrieved June 03, 2016, from

http://www.socialist-alliance.org/policy/civil-liberties-health-social-justice/drugs

Strang, J., Griffiths, P., & Gossop, M. (1997). Heroin smoking by “chasing the dragon”:

Origins and history. Addiction, 92, 673–683.

The Poisons (Heroin) Act 1953 (Austl.).

Toit, B. M. (1997). Drugs, rituals and altered states of consciousness. Rotterdam: A. A Balkema

Trocki, C. A., (1999).

Opium, empire and the global political economy: Study of Asian opium trade.

London: Routledge.

Wodak, A., & Moore, T. (2009) ‘How did we get into this mess?’

Modernising Australia’s Drug Policy. Sydney: University of NSW Press.

Wodak, A. (2000) Drugs and democracy. Melbourne: Melbourne University Press.

Zinberg, N. E. (1984).

Drug, set and setting: The basis for controlled intoxicant use. Yale, US:

Yale University Press