Turn On and Tune In: Psychedelics, Narcotics and Euphoriants
John Mann, John Emsley, Philip Ball, Philip Page, Joseph P Michael, Henry Oakeley
September 30, 2009 DOI: 10.1039/9781839168550 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Review |
|---|---|
| Key findings | Argues that psychoactive drugs have a long history of human use, with opium known to the Sumerians by 3400 BC and ergot alkaloids related to LSD consumed for at least a thousand years, and that these substances have had significant anthropological, sociological, chemical, and pharmacological influences. |
Abstract
Timothy Leary's advice to "tune in, turn on and drop out" was a 1960s exhortation to experiment with LSD, but humans had been consuming ergot alkaloids related to lysergic acid diethylamide for at least a thousand years. Opium has been around even longer with its medicinal uses being known to the Ancient Sumerians as long ago as 3400 BC. This is the first book to cover all of the major psychoactive drugs (both natural and synthetic) in one volume, and the only one to cover all aspects of these drugs from their anthropological and sociological influences through to their chemistry and pharmacology. It covers a range of substances including LSD, opium, heroin, cocaine, cannabis, peyote, belladonna, mandrake, and absinthe. The book is highly readable and concentrates on the characters (e.g. authors, painters, pop stars, hippies, politicians and drug barons), both famous and infamous, who have ensured that psychoactive drugs hold an enduring fascination and interest for everyone. The basic chemistry and pharmacological activity covered together with a brief account of useful drugs that have emerged from a study of the psychoactive ones.