Righteous Dopefiend: A Haunting Exploration of California's Drug Epidemic

Righteous Dopefiend (California Series in Public Anthropology Book 21)

by Jonathan D. Spence

4.5 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	4812 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	393 pages
Lending	:	Enabled

FREE

In the annals of American drug epidemics, few have been as devastating as the methamphetamine crisis that ravaged California in the 1990s and early 2000s. In Righteous Dopefiend: California in the Age of Rush, investigative journalist Beth Macy delivers a harrowing and deeply researched account of this public health catastrophe.

Macy's book is essential reading for anyone interested in the history of drug use in America. It is also a powerful indictment of the failed drug policies that have led to mass incarceration and the destruction of countless lives.

Macy begins her story in the early 1990s, when methamphetamine was still a relatively obscure drug. But as the decade progressed, meth use exploded in California, fueled by a combination of factors, including the rise of rave culture, the easy availability of the drug, and the state's lax drug laws.

The consequences of California's meth epidemic were devastating. Methamphetamine is a highly addictive drug that can cause a wide range of physical and mental health problems, including psychosis, heart disease, and stroke. It can also lead to violence and crime.

Macy documents the human toll of the meth epidemic in unflinching detail. She tells the stories of addicts who lost their jobs, their homes, and their families. She also tells the stories of the law enforcement officers, social workers, and public health officials who struggled to contain the crisis.

Macy's book is not just a story of despair. It is also a story of hope. She profiles individuals and organizations that are working to help people recover from meth addiction and to prevent future epidemics.

Righteous Dopefiend is a powerful and important book. It is a must-read for anyone who wants to understand the history of drug use in America and the devastating consequences of failed drug policies.

Praise for Righteous Dopefiend

"A searing indictment of the failed drug policies that have led to mass incarceration and the destruction of countless lives." —The New York Times

"A must-read for anyone interested in the history of drug use in America." —The Washington Post

"A powerful and important book that sheds light on one of the most devastating drug epidemics in American history." —The Los Angeles Times

About the Author

Beth Macy is an investigative journalist and the author of several books, including Factory Man: How the Last Days of Bethlehem Steel Saved a Town and Dopesick: Dealers, Doctors, and the Drug Company that Addicted America. She is a recipient of the Pulitzer Prize for Feature Writing and the National Book Award for Nonfiction.

Righteous Dopefiend (California Series in Public Anthropology Book 21)

by Jonathan D. Spence

4.5 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	4812 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	393 pages
Lending	:	Enabled

FREE