Editor’s Note: This spring marks 40 years since the original publication of David Musto’s groundbreaking 1973 book, The American Disease: Origins of Narcotic Control. In honor of this anniversary, former Points contributing editor Nan
cy D. Campbell has organized an online symposium on Musto’s book and its impact, featuring leading drug historians. The symposium kicks off on Monday, January 28 with a reflection by David Courtwright, followed during the week by posts from Joe Spillane, Caroline Acker, Tim Hickman, and Nancy Campbell. Check in every day for what promises to be an illuminating discussion not only on this seminal work, but on the history of the field.