“On the opening page of High Society, which aims to explain ‘how substance abuse ravages America,’ Joseph Califano declares that ‘chemistry is chasing Christianity as the nation’s largest religion.’ Although it is not always easy to decipher Califano’s meaning in this overwrought, carelessly written, weakly documented, self-contradictory, and deeply misleading anti-drug screed, here he seems to be saying that opiates are the religion of the masses. Americans, he implies, are seeking from psychoactive substances the solace they used to obtain from faith in God, and better living through chemistry is nearly as popular as better living through Christ. That claim, like many Califano makes, is unverifiable, and it does not seem very plausible.” [editor’s note: Although this is ostensibly an article about the prohibition of “illegal” drugs, the recent DEA stats about how Big Pharma’s products have overtaken the “illicit market” makes its points all the more relevant to our readers - SAT] (03/20/08)