Book Review: Say Why to Drugs
Hey everyone, HarmReductionEnjoyer here.
I recently picked up a copy of "Say Why To Drugs" by Dr. Suzi Gage. It is an A-Z primer on some of the most common drugs, including legal ones, that tries to correct misconceptions and give a solid overview of each substance. I wanted to share a short review with you all based on my read-through.
What I liked
Smart myth-busting: I really appreciated how Dr. Gage debunks myths. She focuses purely on the corrections rather than reinforcing the false information in your head. For example, she explains perfectly why the common idea that nitrous gets you high by starving your brain of oxygen is totally false.
Handling scientific uncertainty: I loved how gracefully she deals with what we simply don't know yet. When it comes to the complex links between drugs and mental health, she acknowledges that science is an ongoing process and that researchers don't have all the definitive answers yet.
Stigma still sucks: I also loved Dr. Gage’s treatment of stigma and how important language is when discussing drugs. "Language matters, and there’s a real risk that individuals who do experience problems with their substance use will be less likely to seek help, or get the help they need, if they’re stigmatised for their situation" (page 297-298). YESSS PREACH. A lot of the myths Dr. Gage debunks in this book have some pretty shitty stigma embedded in them, and she outlines how damaging this can be to people who use drugs.
What I didn't like
The Gateway Drug theory: I really had issues with her deciding that the "weed is a gateway drug" myth is partially true just because a weed dealer might know where to get other drugs. I felt this missed the mark because correlation doesn't equal causation, and it ignores the massive amount of other factors involved when people decide to try new things.
The illusion of neutrality: In the intro, she frames the book as trying to be as dispassionate and politically neutral as possible. However, you get the sense she is pro-harm-reduction throughout the book. Harm reduction is scientifically proven to save lives, but it is also a highly political issue, so framing the science as completely neutral felt a bit jarring to me.
Missing Substances and Grouping: Some specialized drugs are entirely missing (like 2C-B), while others with distinct cultural and risk profiles (like standard amphetamines and crystal methamphetamine) are lumped together into single sections, causing some loss of nuance.
Overall, even though it touches on some pretty science-heavy topics, I thought the writing was accessible and entertaining. I’d highly recommend it to drug nerds, or really anyone who is curious about the subject.
Has anyone else here read it yet? I would love to hear your thoughts.
--
HarmReductionEnjoyer
I recently picked up a copy of "Say Why To Drugs" by Dr. Suzi Gage. It is an A-Z primer on some of the most common drugs, including legal ones, that tries to correct misconceptions and give a solid overview of each substance. I wanted to share a short review with you all based on my read-through.
What I liked
Smart myth-busting: I really appreciated how Dr. Gage debunks myths. She focuses purely on the corrections rather than reinforcing the false information in your head. For example, she explains perfectly why the common idea that nitrous gets you high by starving your brain of oxygen is totally false.
Handling scientific uncertainty: I loved how gracefully she deals with what we simply don't know yet. When it comes to the complex links between drugs and mental health, she acknowledges that science is an ongoing process and that researchers don't have all the definitive answers yet.
Stigma still sucks: I also loved Dr. Gage’s treatment of stigma and how important language is when discussing drugs. "Language matters, and there’s a real risk that individuals who do experience problems with their substance use will be less likely to seek help, or get the help they need, if they’re stigmatised for their situation" (page 297-298). YESSS PREACH. A lot of the myths Dr. Gage debunks in this book have some pretty shitty stigma embedded in them, and she outlines how damaging this can be to people who use drugs.
What I didn't like
The Gateway Drug theory: I really had issues with her deciding that the "weed is a gateway drug" myth is partially true just because a weed dealer might know where to get other drugs. I felt this missed the mark because correlation doesn't equal causation, and it ignores the massive amount of other factors involved when people decide to try new things.
The illusion of neutrality: In the intro, she frames the book as trying to be as dispassionate and politically neutral as possible. However, you get the sense she is pro-harm-reduction throughout the book. Harm reduction is scientifically proven to save lives, but it is also a highly political issue, so framing the science as completely neutral felt a bit jarring to me.
Missing Substances and Grouping: Some specialized drugs are entirely missing (like 2C-B), while others with distinct cultural and risk profiles (like standard amphetamines and crystal methamphetamine) are lumped together into single sections, causing some loss of nuance.
Overall, even though it touches on some pretty science-heavy topics, I thought the writing was accessible and entertaining. I’d highly recommend it to drug nerds, or really anyone who is curious about the subject.
Has anyone else here read it yet? I would love to hear your thoughts.
--
HarmReductionEnjoyer
Discussion
No replies yet.