The Devil's Drug

Starred review from December 20, 2024

Crystal meth has become known as one of the world's most dangerous drugs, not only for its addictive power and physical impact on the body but also the effect it's having on societies worldwide. For this work, war photographer and anthropologist Voeten (Mexican Drug Violence: Hybrid Warfare, Predatory Capitalism and the Logic of Cruelty) sought information from the many people who buy, sell, distribute, or fight against meth, including Mexican cartels, numerous people who have substance-use disorders, and law enforcement officers who are dealing with the crime associated with its distribution in their communities. An intriguing historical overview of meth use is given at the beginning of the book; for example, one of meth's first recorded uses was in World War II, when the Nazis provided it to their soldiers to help increase their work production. The book also shows that they gave meth to their own people to help them deal with the war's horrific aftermath. VERDICT Voeten's meticulous research has made for easily the most comprehensive work ever done on this subject. A must for collections, this highly recommended book expertly describes and shows with evidence-based research and powerful accounts the terrifying reality of this global issue.--Steve Dixon

Copyright 2024 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

January 1, 2025
A stimulant existing naturally in Ephedra sinica, methamphetamine was first developed in a lab for its benefits in easing congestion. In the wrong hands, of course, any drug can be misused. During WWII, Nazi high command gave soldiers Pervitin (manufactured methamphetamine) to keep them alert on crucial missions and long marches. Methamphetamine would ebb and flow in popularity in the ensuing decades, and in the 1970s, methamphetamine use spread to Eastern Europe, particularly in the current Czech Republic, where crystal meth remains the "most popular drug." As criminal syndicates in Mexico, the Netherlands, and Southeast Asia undertook production of methamphetamine, human misery inflicted by addiction and deadly gangland wars followed. The Devil's Drug is a fascinating investigation into the background of methamphetamine, along with a portrait of both those who profit from the drug's sale and those who are held captive by its effects. Voeten (Tunnel People, 2010) travels the world and gains insights from people involved with methamphetamine at all levels for an unflinching view of a continuing epidemic.

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