Szasz also wrote "
Ceremonial Chemistry, The
ritual persecution of
drugs,
addicts, and
pushers."
In this book, the author tries to identify the actual occurrences that constitute our so-called drug problem.
He also thinks that "the conceptual realm and logical class into which these phenomena belongs are religion and politics", that "the ritual persecution of these pharmacological and human agents must be seen against the historical backdrop of the ritual persecution of other scapegoats, such as witches, Jews and madmen."
Finally, Szasz says that he wants to "identify the moral and legal implications of the view that using and avoiding drugs are not matters of health and disease but matters of god and evil; that, in other words, drug abuse is not a regretable medical disease but a repudiated religious observance."
This is one of my favorite authors, as his thoughts are provoking and make me wonder about what kind of world are we living in...
For similar approaches see the Michael Foucault node.
From the preface of "Ceremonial Chemistry, The ritual persecution of drugs, addicts, and pushers." 1985 © by Thomas Szasz, Learning Publications Inc.