Paying People to Take Their Pills
The majority of medication-related hospital admissions were caused by noncompliance—when patients, for one reason or another, don't take their drugs.
What if We Acknowledged That People Use Drugs Because They’re Fun?
In the modern Western world, drug use fits well into economies that divide our days into disciplined, production-oriented “clock time,” and leisure time.
How Did Big Pharma Get Big?
One branch of the healthcare industry that receives particular opprobrium for its high costs in America compared to other countries is pharmaceuticals.
How Should Therapists Handle Patients Seeking Stimulants?
Patients called with no time for curiosity. They wanted stimulants, and they wanted them now. Then we could talk.
Addicted Mothers: Substance Abusers or Child Abusers?
Are mothers with addictions abusive or victims? Our answer almost always involves race and class.
How LSD Went From Research to Religion
The lines between psychological research and mysticism were blurry in the early days of LSD.
America’s Workforce Runs on Uppers
Uppers like Benzedrine and cocaine provided a willing workforce for our capitalist economy. Now, Americans are turning to ADHD medications.
Why Did the “Female Viagra” Fail?
Marketers pitched "female viagra" as a win for gender equality. Why is the drug now called a "colossal failure?"
What Causes an Epidemic of Heroin Deaths?
Research suggests that certain things such as alcohol and the potency of the dose increase the rate at which users die from heroin use.
The Darker Side of Prohibition
During Prohibition, industrial-grade alcohol cost hundreds of American lives. The Coolidge administration encouraged its circulation.