A vivid presentation of various drugs with diverse cultural, historical, botanical, and pharmacological descriptions, as well as personal accounts. Dunselman provides the reader with an in-depth understanding of the effects of narcotics on human consciousness. Instead of a personal narrative, it offers a comprehensive, well-founded, and highly interesting study of drugs. Ron Dunselman clearly describes the origins and characteristics of narcotic substances; he outlines the historical background of drug use and discusses the societal issues surrounding today's drug addiction. Mythological and cultural connections, along with many authentic reports from former drug addicts, create a lively picture of the nature of different narcotics and their effects on human consciousness and the body. However, the book is more than just a general study of drugs.