An Anatomy of Addiction

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The narrative explores the lives of Freud and Halsted as they navigated the duality of cocaine's promise and peril in the 1880s. Both men, pivotal figures in their fields, faced devastating personal battles with addiction that impacted their health, relationships, and professional legacies. Markel delves into the profound physical and emotional toll of their struggles while highlighting their remarkable contributions to psychoanalysis and modern surgery. This account sheds light on their intertwined stories, set against a backdrop of historical significance.