Really interesting, and just as detailed and informative as it needs to be. It gives a slightly more than general overview of almost every drug you can think of. I like that it is split into sections based on what class of drug they are discussing (opiates, stimulants, sedatives, etc.). I am someone who is super interested in this topic and (kind of) researching for a book. So, this is incredibly helpful if you want basic information about every drug out there, legal or not.
One thing I need to point out, however, is the horrible paragraph summing up the cultivation of Coca leaves in South America. Specifically in Bolivia, where I lived and studied for a short time, it is not called “Cocaine leaves” and most people I met didn’t like how tied the plant is to illegal cocaine. Even though cocaine is derived from the coca plant, coca leaves themselves do not cause the same effects as cocaine. During my time there, I was given Coca leaves and used them almost everyday. They promote wellbeing, mental clarity, a healthy immune system, and help with altitude sickness. Very different from the chemical substance that is actually “cocaine.” (Indigenous peoples of south america certainly weren’t soaking their coca leaves in gasoline!)
The sentence, “The Natives of South America used cocaine as an important part of their daily life” is really bad misinterpretation of their use of the coca plant
This insinuates (to me) that Coca consumers in South America were and are always high on coke, which couldn’t be farther from the truth.
That could have and really should have been researched better. (Or researched at all really).