Encyclopedia of Psychoactive Substances: History, Pharmacology, Society & Global Geopolitics (Paperback) (ISBN-13: 9798274923934)

This encyclopedia is a sweeping, authoritative journey through one of the most influential-and misunderstood-forces shaping human history: psychoactive substances. From the sacred plants of ancient civilizations to today's ultra-potent synthetic opioids, the book explores how drugs have shaped cultures, economies, politics, and societies across millennia.
Clear, accessible, and rooted in rigorous research, it offers readers a panoramic view of how substances such as opium, cocaine, cannabis, psychedelics, methamphetamine and fentanyl evolved from local rituals to global commodities. It reveals how empires fought wars over narcotics, how modern pharmaceutical breakthroughs unintentionally triggered waves of addiction, and how criminal networks and geopolitical tensions transformed drugs into vectors of conflict, suffering, and power.
Beyond history, the book examines the modern landscape: the rise of synthetic drugs, the collapse of public health systems under the weight of the opioid crisis, the battle for global precursor chemicals, the failures of prohibition, and the promise of new medical treatments and harm-reduction strategies.
At its core, this encyclopedia is not just about drugs-it is about people. It humanizes the statistics by bringing forward the lived experiences of those affected: families, communities, frontline workers, and individuals caught in the intersection of trauma, biology, and global economics.
Comprehensive yet accessible, this book is designed for general readers, policymakers, healthcare professionals, students, and anyone seeking to understand the true global impact of psychoactive substances. It is a timely, essential reference at a moment when the world stands at a crossroads-facing unprecedented drug potency, expanding criminal networks, and urgent debates on how to build a more humane, effective future.

Author: Bruno Bianchini
ISBN-13: 9798274923934
Publisher: Independently Published
Language: English
Published: 11/17/2025
Pages: 122
Format: Paperback
Weight: 0.66lbs
Size: 11.00h x 8.50w x 0.26d