"The Fix" is one of the most superb works I have read on a relatively new topic in society. Mr. Massing, although he does suggest that the war on drugs has failed, does not preach in this book. He explains in gripping detail the trials of drug abusers, rehabilitation clinics, poor communities, and more. This is neither a text book nor a piece of fiction; it seemlessly integrates key facts and scholarly commentary with a powerful narrative on the effect on drugs on society. If you are interested in the subject of drugs in society, you are missing out on one of the most incisive books on the top if you don't read this book.

This book is about drug policy in America. It is a celebration of the Drug policy enacted by Nixon and a criticism of the drug war. The book is two layered, the author follows around a worker who deals with drug addicts and talks about his life running a poor under funded agency while at the same time talking about the broader issues.

All drugs cause society some problems. Probably the most costly drugs for society are alcohol and tobacco. Heroin and Crack however have a very visible cost in an increase in criminality. Drug dependant people often drift into various forms of crime to support their habits. Other drugs such as cannabis also have side effects and there is evidence that long term use can cause a range of problems.

The book suggests that the policy developed by Nixon was in fact the correct policy. That is by making provision for rehabilitation centres for treatment of drug addicts. Rehab centres are cheap by comparison with jails and significantly cut drug use and criminality. The author of the book refers to studies carried out by the RAND Corporation into the cost benefits of such programs to support his case.

During the Reagan years the direction of drug policy changed. A number of parents groups had sprung up suggesting that teenage use of cannabis was responsible for a range of adolescent social problems. Money was taken from rehab centres to fund Nancy Reagan's "say not to drugs campaign".

In reality the "say no to drugs campaign has been successful." Cannabis and other drug use in American is far lower for adolescents than for other comparable countries. The basic problem was that as resources were taken from rehab centres hard drug use skyrocketed. This in turn led to the substitution of imprisonment as the main response to drug dependant criminality. The cost has been significant with a tremendous social cost of prison construction lessening funds for other government programs such as eduction. The arrest of drug dependant people also has led to massive increases in the imprisonment of Afro American people.

This book is one of the more impressive written on one of the significant issues facing American society,

Michael Massing's book is an engrossing account of the evolution of drug policy in the past 30 years. He traces the ineffective twists and turns of the government's approaches, ironically beginning with the promising work of Dr. Jerome Jaffe, the first drug czar in Nixon's first term. His narrative shifts between the policymakers in Washington and the efforts of an outreach worker in Spanish Harlem to help others with virtually no resources. Massing concludes that a lot more resources need to be applied to the treatment of hard core addicts with less for interdiction. He maintains that treatment does work, we know what to do, but have been influenced by fadism all along the way. An obvious example is "Just Say No" but a less obvious one is the effort that suburban parents began in the late '70s to move resources to treat kids for pot smoking. Policy makers in the drug arena will find this book valuable in presenting a case for the enhancement of resources for those most in need.

This book significantly changed the way I, as a teacher of Language Arts, think about what we do in secondary classrooms every day. Without ever being strident or laying blame, the authors methodically, movingly demonstrate that in so many ways, most middle schools and high schools are still far off the mark in how they teach English. And yet, the answer is right there--all we have to do is listen to the kids.

Sure, it's easy for us to listen to the good readers, the ones who zipped through "Lord of the Rings" in 5th grade, who devour books. But when do we really listen and respond to the needs of those kids--particularly, as the authors point out, boys--who never read, who say they hate to read?

The authors studied, and carried on extensive dialogues, with 49 boys in grades 7-12. What they found will shock and dismay some readers. To others, it will come as no surprise. Still others may see it as a call to action: Increasingly, many children--and boys in particular--fail to make any significant connection with what goes on in the language arts classroom. Even passionate teachers may be of little help, so long as they insist on imposing the conventional canon of "great literature" on all students. What's more, students who resist traditional reading are by no means necessarily illiterate. Many are highly competent readers of computer manuals, sports magazines, graphic novels and internet communications--to name just a few. Many are passionate about these alternative literary activities. But they find no reinforcement for them in school; often, it is quite the opposite.

The authors argue that we must reach students first through the literate activities they already know and value, and tap into these interests, these sometimes unconventional literacies, as ways to engage them in meaningful, real activities. Then, if all goes well, they will begin to seek out wonder and meaning in ways that go deeper than the surface, and the door may open, for some, on that world of symbolic, philosophical, emotional meaning that is so valued by teachers and other lifelong readers.

Statistics, statistics, statistics. For those who believe that racial discrimination does not exist or who seem to think that affirmative action serves as a solid counterweight should read it. Useful in arguments against conservatives who claim racism is dead (see D'Souza,Dinesh). A less dry source with the same information was a Primetime Live special called "True Colors". If you can track it down, watch it. You won't regret it.