In the wake of a personal loss and the upheaval of the pandemic, Justin Smith-Ruiu found himself at a California cannabis dispensary, pondering a profound question: Who am I and how did I get here?


On Drugs blends memoir, investigative reporting and philosophical inquiry as Smith-Ruiu explores the impact of psychedelics on the mind and human consciousness. Drawing on a broad range of intellectual history and his personal experiences, he delves into how these substances challenge Western assumptions about reality, the self and existence. Psychedelics offer a path to a radically new way of thinking and a new philosophical lens that could reshape how we understand ourselves and our place in the universe.


On Drugs offers an insightful and thought-provoking exploration of mind-altering substances, their impact on modern thought and the very nature of reality.