The Nature of Drugs: History, Pharmacology, and Social Impact, Volume Two

Alexander Shulgin’s The Nature of Drugs Volume Two presents a lecture based framework for answering “So, what is a drug?” and examining how drugs affect living systems. The book continues from Volume One using his 1987 San Francisco State University lectures recorded by Ann Shulgin, mixing chemistry education with a view on societal and individual freedoms related to medicinal and exploratory drug use. It covers multiple drug categories including stimulants, depressants, intoxicants, deliriants, and psychedelics, including a focused set of lectures on peyote and three lectures on psychedelics. It also includes coverage of cannabis and a lecture specifically linking cannabis and LSD, plus topics like the mechanics of drug testing and cultural history around tobacco and alcohol. The volume features illustrations by Donna Torres and an afterword by David E. Presti.