Originally published in 1992 as The Facts About Drug Use, this updated edition contains new information about the effects of alcohol and recreational, mood-altering drugs on the body. The multiple causes of drug use and the options available to those dependent on drugs as a way of life are thoroughly and clearly described. Drug use affects nearly 1 out of 2 Americans and cuts across every social and economic boundary. The effects of addiction on the individual are great, and the cumulative effects on society are staggering. Knowledge of the adverse effects of mood-altering drugs and why and how they are used excessively is a centerpiece of this book. It presents, intelligently and interestingly, ways to identify persons at risk and identify problems that the addicted encounter in attempts to become drug free. Alcoholism, Drug Addiction, and the Road to Recovery: Life on the Edge is an essential tool in both finding available resources for drug users and developing appropriate responses to today’s drug problem. This remarkable, well-referenced book enables those with little or no background in science or health care to understand the complex issues surrounding drug use. It provides current, reliable, and unbiased information on methods for dealing with dependency upon alcohol and central nervous system depressants, hallucinogens, heroin, nicotine, marijuana, caffeine, amphetamines, designer drugs like Ecstasy, and steroids. A glossary listing common street names for drugs will be invaluable to those interested in identifying specific substances. This comprehensive volume will show you: who typically uses drugs and the reasons why they do how to classify mood-altering drugs how to identify and treat drug dependency areas of special concern such as multiple drug use, AIDS and drug use, drugs and pregnancy, drugs and sports, and drug testing technology Chapter by chapter, this nonjudgmental book helps readers develop a better understanding of the effects of mood-altering substances and the reasons many continue to use them despite serious consequences. This is a valuable key to the nature of dependency and addiction, and the external forces (including poverty and homelessness) that promote such behavior. To view an excerpt online, find the book in our QuickSearch catalog at www.HaworthPress.com. Reviews: “WISE AND COMPASSIONATE books such as this, overflowing with sound advice based on scientific evidence, can help overcome the half-truths and misunderstandings that plague the addiction treatment field. WE RECOMMEND THIS BOOK for all persons wanting a better grasp of the wide-ranging issues, problems, and treatment solutions in addiction medicine, whether they are new or experienced in the field. Stimmel's style is CONCISE, EASY-TO-FOLLOW, AND VERY DOWN TO EARTH. In fact, almost as a bonus, he includes the most extensive list of street names for drugs that we've seen anywhere. A thorough index allows this book to be used as a quick reference text, and there is a resource bibliography for each chapter.” Alcohol Treatment Forum “WELL WRITTEN AND INFORMATIVE. . . . The tables are concise, informative, and easy to follow. . . . May help in earlier detection of someone who is addicted or to provide alternative treatments. The book's objectives are worthy and the author meets them.” Divine, Inc. (formerly Doody's Notes) “RECOMMENDED for general readers, lower- and upper-division undergraduates, and two-year technical program students. A WONDERFUL BOOK. . . . Provides in-depth descriptions of drugs of abuse. . . . Includes clear explanations of physiological and psychological aspects that do not require substantial prior knowledge on the part of the reader. The author's writing style is clear. . . . Tables are used throughout to summarize key information.” Choice Magazine “UPDATED, NEW, AND COMPREHENSIVE. . . . Covers the effects and the occurrence of alcohol, drugs, and related problems, as well as treatment options. The glossary of terms and street names is useful. I find this work scientifically accurate, presenting balanced views on many controversial issues. Of particular value, especially to parents, may be the section on addressing drug use in adolescents. The chapter on drugs and sports and the arguments given for and against the legalization of illicit drugs should be considered in any informed debate.” Addiction “Dr. Barry Stimmel has written A MARVELOUSLY COMPREHENSIVE BOOK exploring the complex issues of drug use. He has done it clearly and without jargon, providing a useful overview of adverse effects, potential for dependency, and treatment options. A WISE AND PASSIONATE BOOK.” Robert L. DuPont, MD, President, Institute for Behavior & Heath, Inc., Rockville, Maryland “Books on drugs crowd the bookshops these days, but my unhesitating advice to any browsing the shelves is BUY THIS ONE. This is a thoroughly useful book, free of platitude and jargon, deeply concerned, but with no taint of scaremongering. COMBINES OUTSTANDING AUTHORITY AND REMARKABLE COMPREHENSIVENESS WITH WONDERFULLY SKILLED PRESENTATION.” Professor Griffith Edwards, Editor-in-Chief, Addiction, London, United Kingdom Contents: Preface Acknowledgments PART I. BASIC CONCEPTS Chapter 1. Who Uses Drugs? Drugs and the Young Adults and Drug Use Ethnicity and Drug Use Drugs and the Work Place Drug Use Among the Affluent Summary Chapter 2. Classifying Mood-Altering Drugs Types of Classification Differences and Similarities Among Drug Groups Designer Drugs Club Drugs Performance-Enhancinhg Drugs Summary Chapter 3. Habituation, Dependency, and Addiction Defining Terms Effects of Drugs on the Brain Chapter 4. Why People Use Drugs Initiating Drug Use Biological Determinants Psychological Factors Environment and Conditioning Conclusion Chapter 5. Identifying Inappropriate Drug Use and Drug Dependency Signs and Symptoms of Drug Use Addressing Drug Abuse in Your Children Laboratory Aids to Identify Alcohol and Drug Use Value of Identifying the Drug User Chapter 6. Treating Drug Dependency Available Treatment Modalities Evaluation of Treatment After Treatment The Law and Drug Treatment PART II. MOOD-ALTERING DRUGS Chapter 7. Alcohol Patterns of Use Costs of Drinking Common Alcoholic Beverages How Alcohol Is Handled by the Body Effects of Environment Interaction with Other Drugs Dependency and Withdrawal Adverse Effects Diagnosis Reasons for Excessive Drinking Alcoholism: A Disease or a Psychological Disorder? Summary Chapter 8. Central Nervous System Depressants and Antianxiety Agents Patterns of Use Barbiturates Nonbarbiturate Hypnotics and Sedatives Other Central Nervous System Depressants Benzodiazepines Miscellaneous Antianxiety Agents Chapter 9. Powerful Hallucinogens, Phencyclidine, and Ecstasy Classification Adverse Effects of Hallucinogens Ecstasy Phencyclidine Ketamine Chapter 10. Marijuana Reefer Madness Patterns of Use Tolerance, Dependency, and Withdrawal Adverse Effects Moving to Stronger Drugs Medical Uses of Marijuana Conclusion Chapter 11. Opiates and Opioids Opium Preparations Action of Opioids on the Brain Effects of Opioids on the Body Tolerance, Dependency, and Withdrawal Opioids Susceptible to Nonmedical Use Opiate Agonists—Antagonists Partial Opioid Receptor Agonists Chapter 12. Heroin Addiction Heroin from Opium: The Street Trade Getting High and Coming Down Prevalence Adverse Effects The Challenge of Treating Heroin Addiction Measuring Treatment Effectiveness Chapter 13. Amphetamines, Amphetamine-Like Drugs, and Caffeine Amphetamines Amphetamine-Like Drugs Caffeine Chapter 14. Cocaine Patterns of Use Cocaine Metabolism Dependency, Tolerance, and Addiction Adverse Effects of Cocaine Treatment of Cocaine Dependency Chapter 15. Nicotine Cigarette Smokers Today Available Nicotine Products Ingredients in Tobacco Dependency, Tolerance, Addiction, and Withdrawal Adverse Effects of Smoking Treatment Chapter 16. Volatile Solvents, Anesthetics, and Organic Nitrites Volatile Solvents Anesthetic Agents Organic Nitrites PART III. AREAS OF SPECIAL CONCERN Chapter 17. Multiple Drug Use Alcohol and Other Drugs Smoking and Drug Use Opioids Cocaine Marijuana Treatment Chapter 18. AIDS and Drug Use HIV: The Human Immunodeficiency Virus Preventing HIV Transmission Treatment of AIDS Relationship Between the Use of Non-Injecting Mood-Altering Drugs and HIV Infection Summary Chapter 19. Drugs, Pregnancy, and the Newborn Incidence of Drug Use During Pregnancy General Effects of Drugs on Pregnancy Outcome Human Immunodeficiency Virus Treatment of Drug Use and Dependence During Pregnancy Prevention of Drug Use During Pregnancy Chapter 20. Drugs and Sports Stimulants Anabolic Steroids Growth Hormone Erythropoietin Detecting and Preventing Inappropriate Drug Use by Athletes Appendix A: Drug Use Reporting Sources Appendix B: List of Common Street Names for Drugs Selected Bibliography Index from the publisher's website |