In "On Drugs," David Lenson delves deep into the complex interplay between society and the multifaceted world of drug use, transcending traditional arguments for or against legalization to explore the cultural, philosophical, and psychological underpinnings of our relationship with substances. Through a series of reflective and thought-provoking meditations, Lenson navigates the murky waters of national consumerism, the stifling effects of the war on drugs on societal diversity, and the profound lack of language capable of capturing the nuanced shifts in consciousness drugs provoke. With a keen literary and philosophical lens, he invites readers to reconsider the indiscriminate lumping together of vastly different substances and experiences, while drawing critical distinctions between drugs of pleasure and those of desire, challenging the very foundations of legal and moral debates on drug use. Lenson’s approach is both scholarly and deeply personal, offering insights that only someone with his unique blend of academic expertise and firsthand experience could provide. "On Drugs" stands out as a visionary and speculative masterpiece, breaking new ground in the ongoing national dialogue about drugs. It is not merely an academic treatise but a bold reevaluation of how we understand drugs and their place in our culture. Whether one is an advocate for legalization, a staunch opponent, or somewhere in-between, Lenson’s work demands attention for its daring to imagine a world where our perspectives on drugs are as diverse and complex as the substances themselves.