Ceremonial Chemistry: The Ritual Persecution of Drugs, Addicts and Pushers

Softcover. Book is in Very Good condition. Cover art by Edward Gorey. In Ceremonial Chemistry, Thomas Szasz critiques the government's approach to drugs and drug use. A central figure in the antipsychiatry movement, Szasz argues that the so-called "therapeutic state" oversteps its bounds by labeling certain drugs as dangerous and criminalizing drug use. Szasz contends that the policies surrounding drug use are not based on science or medicine, but rather on a kind of "ceremonial chemistry" that has more in common with religious rituals and scapegoating. He draws parallels between the persecution of "drug addicts" and historical persecutions, such as those of witches or certain minority groups. He argues that the concept of "drug addiction" is a myth used to pathologize a behavior that is fundamentally a matter of personal choice and moral responsibility. Rather than viewing drug use as a medical problem to be treated, Szasz presents it as a social and moral issue. He asserts that by defining drug use as a disease, society avoids confronting the real problems of personal responsibility and liberty. He advocates for a libertarian solution, where individuals are free to choose what substances they consume, as long as they don't harm others, and the government's role is to protect individual freedom, not to control behavior. 218 pp., notes, bibliography, and index. Protected in a clear polypropylene book bag.…