Oxy by Otto Snow (2001, Paperback, Illustrated)

The title of the book OXY is a misnomer, because the book talks about all opium alkaloids, not just the semisynthetic narcotic Oxycodone. The good: this book is an excellent revue of the opiate literature and includes the original pharmacologic and organic chemistry papers with their cited references. Also, there are various DEA and USDA reports on cultivation of poppies, the Golden Triangle of Laos, Myamar, China, Vietnam, etc. where illicit opium, morphine, and heroin are produced, as well as a suprising amount of data, covering the various extractions of morphine, codeine, thebaine, and other opioids. Also covered is the exact syntheses of oxycodone, and various other related drugs. The bad: the introduction and opening chapter perpetuates some of the common myths about opiates, such as attributing "soldiers disease" (civil-war veterans hooked on opiates) to heroin. Heroin wasn't synthsized until 1873 and was only commercially distributed by Bayer in the 1890s. And worse yet... he claim's the Harrison Act stopped adulteration of narcotics when it was actually the Pure Food and Drug Act of 1906, the Harrison Act was merely a "Tax" law and is responsible for the "War on Drugs" prohibitation we face today! Also, the author referes to opiates as "poisons" which is a bit of hysteria. The ugly: in the first chapter there is a bit of ranting about "script doctors" and medicare fraud that has no place in the book. Indications for the use of the narcotics are mentioned, but without citing medical research or offering medical credentials by the author. But in summary, this is an excellent book if you are an organic chemist, pharmacist, chemical engineer, practioner, pain patient, or heroin user to educate yourself about opiates. THIS BOOK NOR THIS REVIEW ADVOCATES THE USE, ABUSE, POSSESSION, MANUFACTURE, etc. etc. of the substances, plants, precursor chemicals, or laboratory apparatus mentioned in the book, most of which are illegal in the U.S. I have to wonder if the publisher insisted the anti-drug rants be inserted in the book as a pre-condition to publishing. I wouldn't be surprised.