This is the Italian translation of a book originally written in French (Le Plaisir et le Mal. Philosophie de la Drogue, Odile Jacob, 1997). This Italian edition is not available any longer. It is from the Introduction and Conclusion of this volume that a professor of philosophy in the University of Venice, Italy (Umberto Galimberti) copied circa five pages, notes and all. The case transpired in the Italian media, in the Spring and Summer of 2008.