
A History of Drugs
Drugs and Freedom in the Liberal Age
Toby Seddon(Author)
Routledge Cavendish (Publisher)
1st Edition
Published on 7. December 2009
Book
Hardback
200 pages
978-0-415-48027-7 (ISBN)
Description
Why are some psychoactive substances regarded as 'dangerous drugs', to be controlled by the criminal law within a global prohibition regime, whilst others - from alcohol and tobacco, through to those we call 'medicines' - are seen and regulated very differently? A History of Drugs traces a genealogy of the construction and governance of the 'drug problem' over the past 200 years, calling into question some of the most fundamental ideas in this field: from 'addiction' to the very concept of 'drugs'. At the heart of the book is the claim that it was with the emergence in the late eighteenth century of modern liberal capitalism, with its distinctive emphasis on freedom, that our concerns about the consumption of some of these substances began to grow. And, indeed, notions of freedom, free will and responsibility remain central to the drug question today. Pursuing an innovative inter-disciplinary approach, A History of Drugs provides an informed and insightful account of the origins of contemporary drug policy. It will be essential reading for students and academics working in law, criminology, sociology, social policy, history and political science.
Reviews / Votes
'As a platform for first understanding the nature of 'drug problems' and, thereby, allowing one to challenge them, Seddon's book is invaluable.'-Psychedelic Press UK, psypressuk.com, posted 15 June 2012More details
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Taylor & Francis Ltd
Target group
College/higher education
Product notice
Paper over boards
Illustrations
2 s/w Abbildungen
2 Illustrations, black and white
Dimensions
Height: 240 mm
Width: 161 mm
Thickness: 15 mm
Weight
470 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-415-48027-7 (9780415480277)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions

Book
07/2010
1st Edition
Routledge Cavendish
€76.10
Shipment within 15-20 days

E-Book
12/2009
Routledge Cavendish
€69.99
Available for download

E-Book
12/2009
Routledge Cavendish
€69.99
Available for download
Person
Toby Seddon is Senior Research Fellow in the School of Law at the University of Manchester where he is also Director of the Regulation, Security and Justice Research Centre. He is author of Punishment and Madness (Routledge-Cavendish).
Content
1. Introduction: Drugs, Freedom and Liberalism 2. A Conceptual Map: Freedom, the 'Will' and Addiction 3. Opium, Regulation and Classical Liberalism: The Pharmacy Act 1868 4. Drugs, Prohibition and Welfarism: The Dangerous Drugs Act 1920 5. Drugs, Risk and Neo-liberalism: The Drugs Act 2005 6. Drugs as a Regulation and Governance Problem 7. Conclusions: Drugs and Freedom in the Liberal Age