Recreational drug use is a world-wide phenomenon. Despite the best efforts of governments, the public fascination with drugs shows no signs of abating. With media accounts of illegal drug use often verging on the hysterical, this book provides a refreshingly balanced and honest account of drug use throughout the world, one based on scientific fact, and not on dogma. The book examines all the drugs currently used throughout the world, looking at their effects and side-effects. Why do peple use drugs? Why do they become addicted? What are the lessons to be learned from making drugs illegal? Updated for the third edition with chapters rewritten to take account of scientific, epidemiological and political developments since the second edition, and with a new section on the present and future U.S. drug policy from high-profile contributors, the book provides a much needed rational approach to the problem of drug use.
Forbidden Drugs
and over 1.5 million other books are available for Amazon Kindle . Learn more
| ||||||||||||||||||
 Trade In this Item for up to £1.22
Trade in Forbidden Drugs for an Amazon.co.uk gift card of up to £1.22, which you can then spend on millions of items across the site. Trade-in values may vary (terms apply). Learn more
|
Book Description
Frequently Bought Together
Product details
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
More About the Author
Discover books, learn about writers, and more.
Product Description
Review
"Chapters on specific drugs are packed with the requisite detail on physical and psychological effects, but it's his fascinating snippets of historical trivia that one most remembers."--The Journal
"Highly readable, often entertaining, educational account of exactly what we know about recreational drugs; who uses them, how each class of drug works and the biological basis of addiction....The book's historical accounts of abused drugs make fascinating reading whatever your view on legalization...." --Nature
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
From the Publisher
The how, why, what and where of drugs and drug use...
· There are 2 million regular users of illegal drugs in the UK alone · 41% of UK school students admit cannabis use · The illegal drugs market in Britain is worth £8.6 billion · By the age of 16, 94% of children have sampled alcohol · A UK Government study found that 1000 addicts committed 70,728 crimes in one 3 month period · During the First World War, gifts sold by Harrods included a kit of morphine, a syringe and spare needles
· There are 2 million regular users of illegal drugs in the UK alone · 41% of UK school students admit cannabis use · The illegal drugs market in Britain is worth £8.6 billion · By the age of 16, 94% of children have sampled alcohol · A UK Government study found that 1000 addicts committed 70,728 crimes in one 3 month period · During the First World War, gifts sold by Harrods included a kit of morphine, a syringe and spare needles
'Dr Phil Robson has written a wise and humane book, which avoids the easy generalizations and tired shibboleths of the 'drug debate' for an informed and interesting perspective. Thank heavens there are still professionals who are prepared to go against the grain of contemporary drug policy and offer some innovative and forward-looking solutions to the problem of drug-use. I urge anyone interested in the issues surrounding illegal drugs to read this book.' Will Self
An interest in drugs and their effects extends far beyond the ranks of those who actually use them - to anyone aware of current drug use in society. Forbidden Drugs 2e presents detailed historical, scientific, and social information on all the drugs currently used illegally throughout the world, including their effects and side-effects. It examines the reasons why people decide to use these drugs, why they become addicted, and the treatments which are available for drug-related problems. The new edition includes new chapters on two drugs that have been illegal in the past, and remain so in some countries - alcohol and tobacco - plus one dealing with the increasing problem of drug use in sport. There is also a critical evaluation of governments' current policy on drugs with some proposals for limiting the damage caused to individuals and society, and for reducing the problems associated with drug use.
Contents: Why use drugs?; The consequences of drug use; Alcohol; Tobacco; Cannabis; Cocaine and other stimulants; Psychedelics and hallucinogens; The inhalants; Ecstasy and other 'party drugs'; Anabolic steroids; Tranquilisers and sleeping pills; Heroin and the opiates; The nature of addiction; Helping problem drug users; Drug policy - a time for change?; Bibliography and references. - --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Inside This Book
(Learn More)
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By M. McCann
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
As a drugs education and prevention worker who bases my methodologies on a harm reduction model, it is vital that I have as much relevant, up to date and accurate info at my disposal as possible. There are a wide range of sources I use, including of course, on-line but it is also very useful to have good texts to keep building up my knowledge base. This book sits up very well among the others I would consult on a regular basis (including Tyler's "Street Drugs", "Buzzed" and McKim's "Drugs and Behaviour"). Sometimes it can be difficult balancing the science with the social and historical contexts and coming up with a cogent whole, but this collection of chapters from a variety of fields does very well in that regard. It does not bring any value judgements to bear, and quite rightly looks at drugs as just that- substances that have different effects on the body and/ or mind, some intended, some not. It highlights that a drug is a drug and that the important questions are around context, lifestyle and what come attached to the usage off the substance, meaning that there are no historonics and that everything is subjectively and calmly looked at.
If only policy formers and the media could look at substances in sucha rational and informative way, my job would be so much easier!
Obviously due to the fact developments happen so quickly in the field of substance use, a printed book dates quite quickly, so there is no real discussion of ATSs or related drugs but then again they weren't looking into a crystal ball! Of course more recent offerings are available on line but as a good introduction to concepts and historical developments this is a worthy work.
If only policy formers and the media could look at substances in sucha rational and informative way, my job would be so much easier!
Obviously due to the fact developments happen so quickly in the field of substance use, a printed book dates quite quickly, so there is no real discussion of ATSs or related drugs but then again they weren't looking into a crystal ball! Of course more recent offerings are available on line but as a good introduction to concepts and historical developments this is a worthy work.
By Amazon buyer
Format:Paperback
Street Drugs by Andrew Tyler is so much better. This book is such a disappointment.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
5.0 out of 5 stars
1 review
5 of 6 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Good information for the drug novice.
13 Dec 1998
By A Customer
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Paperback
I am a third year law student at Arizona State University and I checked this book out of the library for a paper I was writing. I found that this book was well written and a good book for a person with little or no experience with drugs. I am planning on going into criminal law and have been looking for more information on drugs and drug use. This is a good book for the inexperienced parent, criminal lawyer, or anyone else looking for information on drugs, their effects, and how they are used. The book also contains interesting historical information about drug use. It is not too technical and is pleasant to read.
›
Go to Amazon.com to see the review
5.0 out of 5 stars
Was this review helpful?
Let us know
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
Listmania!
Look for similar items by category
Feedback
- Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
- I am the Author, and I want to comment on my book.
- I am the Publisher, and I want to comment on this book.
|
