Chasing the scream …

CHASING THE SCREAM – DRUGS ACCOUNT GUARANTEED TO RAISE EYEBROWS.

Writer: Johann Hari – Bloomsbury

If you feel well enough to digest the contents of this book at face value, which makes references to one or two famous names in the celebrity field, then it will provide a memorable account detailed by this review, of the century since drugs were first banned in the USA, scrupulously researched for 3 years by journalist Johann Hari. People died in many numbers, there were rival gangsters, corrupt police, members of the public beaten up and derided after they became hooked on some very suspect substances, Billie Holiday allegedly having been stalked and killed by the man who launched the crusade to change the drug laws.

There are strong references and discussions on the effects of certain drugs on society, including cogitations on the harmful effects of cannabis,  which is regarded as causing psychotic states, and increased symptoms of psychiatric illness leading to more serious mental ill health throughout the life of users. Of course, this can be and regularly is debated as it is legal, or seriously decriminalised in some parts of the world, including in European countries.

Russell Brand states, “This book is as intoxicatingly thrilling as crack, without destroying your teeth. It will change the drug debate forever”. Although it is a racy and  startling read with violence, depravity and some very strange other-worldly figures and characters which can hardly be regarded as human in the thickly lined story, one wonders whether all of its contents can in fact be regarded as thoroughly genuine, though the writer might dispute this – is he also trying very hard to seriously shock his readers for kicks? Possibly not. The world of drug addicts and drug dealing is a thick forest of violence, addiction, death, depression and intrigue.

Getting individuals addicted is part of the “profession” of the drug dealers, referred to in the book as instigating “chemical hooks”. There’s something in drugs that the body starts to crave; other factors like isolation and trauma have apparently been “proven as much bigger indicators”.   Johann Hari has a conclusion on his furtive debate that surmises, “If we legalise, somewhat more people will be exposed to the chemical hook in drugs – but the even larger drivers of addiction, trauma and isolation, will be dramatically reduced”. He could suggest that if isolation is part of the issue, then people need to get together more. If this debate and these allusions to the feisty and threatening goings on in the drug world fascinate you, pick up a copy of “Chasing the Scream” and read up on it. Review by Penny Price