Most of What you Know About Addiction is Wrong (Paperback)

Anirudh Kala

ISBN 10: 9354474462 / ISBN 13: 9789354474460

Published by Speaking Tiger Publishing Private Limited, 2023

About this Item

Paperback. In Most of What You Know About Addiction is Wrong, distinguished psychiatrist Anirudh Kala debunks common myths on the largely misunderstood topic of addiction. The book introduces readers to the ways in which humankind has been engaging with addictive substances over time and our complicated ongoing relationship with them.Beginning with the early humans and the formation of their bonds with mind-altering substances, it goes on to share a comprehensive account of the use of various substances in India with a special focus on Punjab. In the late 80s, drug addiction peaked in Punjab and it continues to be a major public health concern today. The book closely examines the links between addiction and the social and economic changes plaguing the state, urging policy makers and law enforcement to stop viewing addiction through a moralistic prism and to adopt a more holistic and scientific approach to manage it.Both the history and the science of addiction are explained in an easy-to-read, accessible style. The nature-versus-nurture debate about the origins of addiction also feature prominently in the book. The benefits of decriminalization and legalization of addictive substances, which countries like Portugal have achieved through pragmatic initiatives are substantiated with ample data. Statistics about the number of people using drugs or affected by addictions are not just quoted; readers are shown how to derive meaning from this data. Most of What You Know About Addiction is Wrong sends out a set of well-researched, informed and timely messages about how mature societies should be handling addictive drugs. This makes the book essential reading for policy makers, politicians, health professionals as well as general readers everywhere. Shipping may be from our Sydney, NSW warehouse or from our UK or US warehouse, depending on stock availability.

Seller Inventory # 9789354474460

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Most of What you Know About Addiction is Wrong (Paperback)
• Publisher: Speaking Tiger Publishing Private Limited
• Publication Date: 2023
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 9354474462
• ISBN 13: 9789354474460
• Binding: Paperback
• Condition: new

About this title

Synopsis

In Most of What You Know About Addiction is Wrong, distinguished psychiatrist Anirudh Kala debunks common myths on the largely misunderstood topic of addiction. The book introduces readers to the ways in which humankind has been engaging with addictive substances over time and our complicated ongoing relationship with them. Beginning with the early humans and the formation of their bonds with mindaltering substances, it goes on to share a comprehensive account of the use of various substances in India with a special focus on Punjab. In the late 80s, drug addiction peaked in Punjab and it continues to be a major public health concern today. The book closely examines the links between addiction and the social and economic changes plaguing the state, urging policy makers and law enforcement to stop viewing addiction through a moralistic prism and to adopt a more holistic and scientific approach to manage it. Both the history and the science of addiction are explained in an easy-to-read, accessible style. The nature-versus-nurture debate about the origins of addiction also feature prominently in the book. The benefits of decriminalization and legalization of addictive substances, which countries like Portugal have achieved through pragmatic initiatives are substantiated with ample data. Statistics about the number of people using drugs or affected by addictions are not just quoted; readers are shown how to derive meaning from this data. Most of What You Know About Addiction is Wrong sends out a set of well-researched, informed and timely messages about how mature societies should be handling addictive drugs. This makes the book essential reading for policy makers, politicians, health professionals as well as general readers everywhere.

About the Author

Anirudh Kala is a psychiatrist by profession. He is Clinical Director of Mind Plus, an intermediate stay facility for treatment of substance use disorders at Ludhiana, Punjab. Kala was a member of the expert group tasked by the Government of India with writing mental health policy for the country, which was released in 2014. He has been instrumental in forging cross-border links between mental health professionals of Indian and Pakistani Punjab provinces and is the founder of the Indo-Pak Punjab Psychiatric Society. Kala also writes fiction. He is the author of the short story collection, Unsafe Asylum: Stories of Partition and Madness (Speaking Tiger Books, 2018) and the novel, Two and a Half Rivers (Niyogi Books, 2021).