This book investigates the complex interplay between voluntary action and the illicit drug trade, examining how individual choices and societal structures shape drug use and policy. Mold draws on extensive sociological and historical research to analyze the motivations behind drug use, the economic forces driving the illegal market, and the effectiveness of various policy interventions. The work presents a framework for understanding drug use not merely as a pathological condition but as a behavior influenced by social, economic, and political factors.

This work is recognized for its rigorous sociological and historical approach to understanding the drug trade and individual involvement. It offers a nuanced perspective that moves beyond simplistic moral or pathological explanations of drug use. The book is likely to appeal to academics and policymakers interested in the social determinants of drug behavior and the efficacy of current strategies.