Under The Influence: The Disinformation Guide to Drugs
Mar 29, 2018

Pauline Colon
Core Spirit member since Dec 24, 2020
Reading time 2 min.

Under the Influence is a sampler kit of drug war essays that brings light to dark corners with energy and commitment. It makes no pretense at objectivity or balance but teems with data and outrage as it weaves history, geopolitics and journalism into a rich and often entertaining resource.

Editor Preston Peet organized 49 essays (including two by Drug War Chronicle editor Phil Smith) into seven categories, such as “For Medicinal Use,” “Reform and Politics” and “Facts and Propaganda,” that take readers on a high-speed tour of drug war zones near and far. Two themes that unite the essays are that this is a war on some drugs and some users, and that prohibition does far more harm than drugs. Not exactly stop-the-presses insight for many potential readers, but the book’s range of topics and fistful of first-rate pieces more than compensate.

In an essay called “A War on Sanity,” law professor Paul Campos asks, “What level of government persecution will put a dent in public apathy about the madness that is the war on drugs?” Assuming that level exists, we are clearly not there yet, and smoldering frustration over the blindness of so many people simmers under the surface in many pieces.

In an Editor’s Note before two essays that close the book, Peet describes Under the Influence as “a book full of hard journalism and social commentary… it is hoped that you will be able to see past the lies and propaganda driving the War on Some Drugs and Users and vote for those representative (sic) who will end the War.” Given the horrors that the book chronicles, though, Peet’s faith in elected officials to end the nightmare might seem naïve.

The richest pieces combine historical detail with deeply skeptical analysis. In “Prohibition is Treason,” Dan Russell declares that “prohibition is a neo-fascist protection racket… (it) is designed to be endless… and (it) has made the drug trade the economic basis of military power throughout the world.”

Russell brings together the origins of America’s drug war with detail on how prohibition and drug profits have helped fund our close ties with foul regimes or rogue groups in client states who do America’s dirtiest work while lining their own pockets. Russell’s is a nice companion piece to Valerie Vande Panne’s “A Brief History of the War on Drugs,” which starts in colonial times to sketch “the roots of our drug war, grown… out of the zealous ignorance of a frightened, greedy, puritanical people.”

In just over two pages, Jay Cavanaugh, who served on the California State Board of Pharmacy from 1980 until 1990, lays waste to the pharmaceutical industry. The Food and Drug Administration, whose official mission is to regulate the industry in the name of public safety, “is in essence the enforcement arm for drug company extortionists… Drug companies spend more money on bribing doctors and politicians, and on advertising drugs folks don’t need and would be better off without than they do on finding all of the miracle cures that are just around the corner.” How many more Vioxx disasters are out there?

Some of the essays wander into difficult territory even for those whose commitment to change is steadfast. Clifford Wallace Thornton, in a piece titled “Perceptions of Race, Class, and America’s War on Drugs,” says, “Another question is whether the drug policy reform movement is ready for an infusion of blacks… Reparations are an issue… that reformers don’t want to address because of a feared backlash by the white populace.”

In “Beyond Health and Safety – A hard look at really preventing drug abuse,” Theo Rosenfeld writes that “we all fall into the same faulty binary logic when we advocate for honesty in drug education but stop at honestly explaining the dangers of drug use as well as fail to honestly speak of positive drug effects and experiences.” Tricky syntax aside, Rosenfeld expresses a reality known to millions – the power of positive drug experiences — but acknowledged by few.

Under the Influence provides information and insight that newcomers and veteran reformers can learn from. Its greatest achievement may be its ability to sustain a tone of resolve and confidence despite the steep uphill battle reformers are fighting.


Leave your comments / questions for this practitioner

To write a comment please
or
Services
Category filter
Concern filter
Type filter
Sort
 

All categories

Pilates
$10 USD
class
Positive Pilates

A Blisful Blend of Breath and Balance with Stretch and Strength .

I teach gentle resotrative pilates classes suitable for a range of levels as I offer adaptations and various levels of dificulty for different levels

Pilates can help with Posture, Alignment, Back pain, core stretngth and Pelvic Floor health.

I have years of expereince working with seniors, those with limited mobility, so my classes are suitable for those returning to fitness after illness as well as those with limited mobility.

Fay Victoria Wellness Wonder Woman
Feldenkrais method
$54 USD
class
6 group class package

In group classes my we move in order to discover more about ourselves and our habits, and how we can become more aware of the habits that hold us back. I lead you through a series of movements, for this laboratory of the self to help you find easier ways to move.

By becoming more aware of what we are actually doing (rather than what we think we are doing), our brain makes new neural connections, and we can find new, easier ways of moving. This improved kinaesthetic skill allows us to move in a way that causes less pain, feel better, and have greater efficiency of both movement and thought.

Each step brings us closer to our potential.

Classes are at 7pm Sundays, 10 am Mondays, 7pm Wednesdays, 8pm Thursdays (UK time)

Emma Alter
Feldenkrais method
$110 USD
coaching session
One to one Online session

Many of my clients are currently shielding, or want to work with me, but don’t live near enough to come to me in person.
I offer online individual sessions, where we work together to help you work out movement patterns that are holding you back, or causing you pain.
For more information, get in touch.

Emma Alter
Feldenkrais method
$110 USD
consultation
One to One hands on Sessions

Individual lessons are able to focus on your specific needs.
Starting from where you are, I use my expertise help you learn which movement habits are holding you back, how to let go of patterns which are unconstructive, and build new ones in their place.

Sessions last an hour. Please wear warm, loose clothes that allows easy movement.

Available both on and off line. Contact me for more details.

Emma Alter

Related Articles

View All
11 min.
Mind & Body Intervention
Mar 29 2018
Yoga Nidra: A Meditative Practice for Deep Relaxation and Healing

Yoga-Nidra (“Yoga sleep”), is an expression widely used to denote the highest state of consciousness. Although yoga nidra means yogic sleep, it is actually a wakeful state of deep introversion. Some contemporary Yoga authorities employ the phrase yoga-nid…

Veronica Rios
2 min.
Pilates
Mar 29 2018
Pilates: The Difference Between Mat And Reformer

Pilates – it’s the exercise of choice for those looking to lengthen and tone, but when it comes to choosing mat or reformer – what are the major differences?

“Pilates on a reformer bed really helps to target those smaller muscle groups, so you form long,…

Charles Ortiz
3 min.
Mind & Body Intervention
Sep 5 2019
Researchers Use Music and LSD to Understand How We attribute Meaning

With the assistance of the psychedelic drug LSD, scientists currently have a realisation of how the brain attributes meaning to things in our lives, like music or particular experiences. The results are published in a Current Biology r esearch.

Katrin Pr…

Demi Powell
3 min.
Mind & Body Intervention
Mar 29 2018
Insights From a Medical Doctor on a Spiritual Path

Mind, body, spirit medicine is spiritually based medicine. It cultivates health through applying spiritual principles and practices. The health of our mind and body is a reflection of the health of our spirit. All illnesses, whether of mind, body or behav…

Tracy Campbell
Registered individuals enjoy all the possibilities of Core Spirit.