In light of the conceptual imperialism of addiction and its associated biological reductionism, it is essential to keep alive critical perspectives on addiction that expose the historical and cultural interstices in which the disease concept of addiction is constructed. The readings selected for this anthology include both the classic foundational pieces and cutting-edge contemporary works that constitute critical addiction studies. The diverse array of human troubles now lumped under the umbrella of "addiction" are too painful for too many millions of people and affect too many public policy issues to be left to reductionist doctrines. The hegemony of the addiction-as-brain-disease paradigm must be unpacked and interrogated.

That is the purpose of this innovative text/reader by two of sociology s most distinguished addiction researchers and educators.

In light of the conceptual imperialism of addiction and its associated biological reductionism, it is essential to keep alive critical perspectives on addiction that expose the historical and cultural interstices in which the disease concept of addiction is constructed. The readings selected for this anthology include both the classic foundational pieces and cutting-edge contemporary works that constitute critical addiction studies. The diverse array of human troubles now lumped under the umbrella of "addiction" are too painful for too many millions of people and affect too many public policy issues to be left to reductionist doctrines. The hegemony of the addiction-as-brain-disease paradigm must be unpacked and interrogated.

That is the purpose of this innovative text/reader by two of sociology s most distinguished addiction researchers and educators.

"The editors and authors have produced an important work in the ongoing debate about the effect and efficacy of U.S. drug policy. Authoritative in its analysis and comprehensive in its embrace, this work will contribute importantly to the policy debate. A must-read for anybody concerned about developing a strategy to improve the health and well-being of our communities."--Ronald Dellums, Member of Congress

""Crack in America is a devastating, sad, angry, though always scholarly book about the many failures of our national drug policy. The contributors make a convincing case that America is unable to solve the problems associated with crack because it is unwilling to deal with extreme economic and racial inequality except by stigmatizing and punishing the unequal. The book is of urgent importance--a powerfully persuasive and illuminating inquiry about America. I wish it could be required reading for the White House and all the agencies responsible for the country's drug problems."--Herbert J. Gans, Columbia University

"Indispensable for understanding the real roots of hard drug abuse in America's inner cities. It shows brilliantly how our drug policies have made our drug problem worse and points the way out of the drug war morass. A passionate and ultimately hopeful book."--Kurt Schmoke, Mayor of Baltimore

""Crack in America accurately and forcefully examines in detail the myth and the reality of crack. It is a must-read for any American concerned about drugs in our society and for any reader valuing honesty and scholarship compellingly presented."--Robert W. Sweet, U.S. District Judge

"A penetrating analysis by a variety of scholars which explodes many of the governmentpropagated myths regarding crack cocaine."--Joseph D. McNamara, Stanford University

"Reinarman, Levine and their colleagues bring a keen sociological sensibility to their analysis of our contemporary moral panic. These essays make clear that crack policy is more the problem than the so-called crack epidemic. And they go on to disentangle the intricate ways in which American culture and economy, and particularly our racism, classicism and sexism, are implicated both in the use of crack and its repression."--Frances Fox Piven, Dept. of Political Science, CUNY Graduate Center

"Scholarly, lucid, and readable. . .the most original and thoughtful analysis of the American crack panic. The contributors demonstrate compellingly the relationship between social justice and public health."--Lester Grinspoon, M.D., Harvard Medical School

"An immensely rich book and an extraordinary source of information. . . . Since crack is not only America's but the world's latest demon drug, and since rational alternatives to repression are at the order of the day the world over, the book is indispensable reading for concerned students, scholars, politicians, and citizens everywhere."--Henner Hess, Goethe-Universitat (Frankfurt, Germany)