The Myth of Addiction (2nd ed)

In this second edition, the author expands and updates his study of the true reasons for drug use.

Current attitudes towards drug misuse in the media, government, and even treatment centres, often exaggerate the pharmacological power of drugs.

Their coercive influence is widely believed to be so great that to experiment with a drug is tantamount to addiction.The author argues that such beliefs are largely inaccurate and harmful.

Research shows that explanations for drug use vary according to circumstances.

Drugs users may explain that they have lost their willpower and capacity for personal decision-making, because this is the explanation expected of them, but most actually use drugs because they want to and because they see no good reason for giving them up.

Addicted behaviour is therefore a form of learned helplessness, not an effect caused by narcotic intake.