Tess Taylor

  • culture July 19, 2011

    Anatomy of an Addiction by Howard Markel

    Howard Markel's new history of medical breakthroughs and personal downfalls revisits the moment when two prominent physicians—William Halsted and Sigmund Freud—fell under the powers of cocaine.

    Recently, reading an article about the oxycodone addiction that’s sweeping the nation, I came across a sidebar about one of its victims: A respected Ohio physician who’d begun to pop a few pills himself, felt wonderful and elated for a few weeks, and ended, in short order, with a full-blown problem that led to the loss of his license, his marriage, and his house. He’s sober now, but his story is sobering: He’s working at a local rug store, barely making ends meet. And his tale—about the way unexpectedly powerful new drugs can ravage the lives not only of patients but of medical professionals—is