There wasn't a black market in heroin in the UK until the closing years of the 1970s, but nevertheless throughout the decade many parts of the country had a rapidly expanding hard-drug scene. It was fuelled principally by pharmacy break-ins, prescription forgery and cajoling of duping doctors into prescribing hard drugs. Between 1970 and 1980, Peter McDermott lived this lifestyle to its extreme limits, existing outside the law. This volume is his story, starting with how a child growing up in the 1960s developed an unhealthy obsession with drugs and drug sub-culture. Unlike the tradtional addiction memoir, McDermott refuses to blame either the drugs or the disease for the choices he made. The fact that he has gone on to become a respected and pioneering figure in the field of harm reduction and progressive drug policies means he is well placed to write with insight and experience about this era and subject.
- ISBN10 1841953369
- ISBN13 9781841953366
- Publish Date 31 August 2004
- Publish Status Out of Print
- Out of Print 8 July 2011
- Publish Country GB
- Imprint Canongate Books
- Format Paperback (UK Trade)
- Pages 384
- Language English