Substance Use
Mental Health and Enhancement January 1, 2023 Stephan Schleim
Three distinct kinds of psychoactive drugs can be distinguished based on their medical use, a category that has shifted over time. Historical examples since the nineteenth century show that colonial authorities were once the largest drug traders and even waged war to keep markets open. Cocaine, opium, and nitrous oxide are examined in detail; the legal regulation of nitrous oxide changed while the book was being written. A framework for instrumental substance use is introduced, distinguishing different reasons people use drugs. Common substances are described with their risks and benefits. Important values that can guide moral decisions about drug use are presented.