Chronicle of an Intoxicated Society

A well-documented critique of the abusive consumption of medication and of the industry that controls the public health system

In wealthy countries, the rising consumption of medications has not led to better public health. On the contrary, numerous studies indicate that more than half of all drugs are prescribed unnecessarily. The pharmaceutical industry’s relentless pursuit of market expansion has significantly altered the regulation and prescription of medications, driving consumption far beyond
actual healthcare needs and posing a serious threat to public health.

In this book, pharmacologist Joan-Ramon Laporte investigates the origins, development, and current use of drugs in society, critically analyzing the roles of pharmaceutical companies, legislators, and healthcare professionals in shaping today’s practices.

He uncovers how current patent laws, manipulated research, regulatory capture, and undue influence on experts and medical societies have profound implications for public health. This reveals that drugs encompass not only scientific and medical dimensions but also commercial, economic, political,
sociological, and anthropological aspects.