The Histories of HIVs: The Emergence of the Multiple Viruses That Caused the AIDS Epidemics ed. by William H. Schneider (review)

Despite the myriad indignities and frustrations of this topic, the book is decidedly optimistic about the present and future. For example, the past decade’s opioid epidemic forced public and private groups to rethink how drug addiction should be addressed (p. 4). Swelling public support for cannabis reform is another area where Farber believes the country is nearing an inflection point on its willingness to support the War on Drugs as faithfully as heretofore. One poll said that half of those surveyed said all drug offenses should be treated in civil, not criminal, court. Not unrelated to this changing public sentiment, erstwhile drug hawk Joe Biden on the 2000 campaign trail stated, “No one should be incarcerated for drug use [of any kind]” (pp. 1–2). At the same time, Farber is on solid ground when he adds that these same Americans are uneasy about what might replace the fifty-year war: primum non nocere. Despite these startling new developments toward overdue reassessment and reform, Farber and his colleagues do worry that while public support for the War on Drugs has dwindled, the “sunk costs” of this once-believed eternal war might be enough to keep it in business long past its shelf life. “People continue to worry about the financial and human cost of prisons larded with convicted non-violent drug offenders, but prison guard unions, police unions and fraternal organizations, private contractors, and other economic interests fight to keep the drug offender-to-prison pipeline flowing” (p. 2). Do not read this volume for balance, as the authors would likely agree that they are categorical critics of the War of Drugs. But they are reasonable and empirical critics, which very much bolsters their credibility.