The Nature of Drugs begins with a deceptively simple question: What is a drug? "The definition of a drug is probably one of the most difficult of the lot. Some will be extremely narrow in the definition, requiring that it will be a chemical that is used for the treatment of some illness. Others will widen the scope to include anything and everything that in some way affects the living system. Often people will answer with that marvelous, marvelous, catch-all phrase, 'Well, you know what a drug is,' or 'Everyone knows what a drug is.'"

So what is a drug?

This is your invitation to "Just Say Know" and explore The Nature of Drugs with renowned chemist, Alexander Shulgin, in his San Francisco State University lecture hall in 1987. This book is a transcription of the original lectures recorded by Ann Shulgin during his classes, and stands as the culmination of his philosophy on drugs and the societal and individual freedoms pertaining to their use--both medicinal and exploratory. Volume One presents the origin of drugs, the history of U.S. drug law enforcement, human anatomy, the nervous system, drug administration methods, varieties of drug actions, memory and states of consciousness, and research methods.