The Book Of Drugs

Recounts the addiction and recovery of the world-renowned solo artist and former lead singer and songwriter of Soul Coughing.

There are numerous references to drugs dispersed throughout Crowley's oeuvre, this book is a collection of his writings that focus on drugs specifically, those works being: three essays on the consciousness-expanding properties of drugs, 'The Psychology of Hashish' (1909), 'Absinthe: The Green Goddess' (1917), and 'Ethyl Oxide' (1923); three articles concerning addiction and drug laws, 'Cocaine' (1917), 'The Great Drug Delusion' (1922), and 'The Drug Panic' (1922); a short story, 'The Drug' (1909), which is about an experience with an obscure 'drug that giveth strange vision'; a diary of his addiction to cocaine and heroin, 'Liber XVIII: The Fountain of Hyacinth' (1921); an article on the mystical potential of drugs, 'The Attainment of Happiness' (1916); and lastly, Crowley's own translation of Charles Baudelaire's 'The Poem of Hashish' (1910).

Drug trafficking and consumption are among the most pressing global issues of our time and the approaches to alleviating them are myriad and complex. With Drugs and the World,Axel Klein takes a remarkably broad approach to the issue, exploring the importance of psychoactive substances to our health and culture. To be properly understood, drugs should not be simply examined from a negative point of view, Klein argues. From their centrality in religious rituals to their part in the growth of trade among nation-states, Klein reveals the pivotal role that drugs have played in the advancement of human society. Klein then investigates the modern policies that define certain substances as drugs; the link between drugs, addiction, and crime; and the legal strategies and policies around the world that have largely failed to control global drug trafficking. The book also draws upon studies from the Caribbean, West Africa and Eastern Europe to propose solutions that could reinforce the eroded power of state institutions, law enforcement, and the democratic process in addressing drug trafficking. A timely and in-depth analysis, Drugs and the World offers an expertly written examination that will be essential for all those concerned with the role of drugs in the modern world.

This is the full colour coffee table edition of The Honest Drug Book, with dimensions of 8.5" x 11" (21.59 x 27.94 cm). Produced to do justice to the hundreds of photographs, it also allows a more leisurely perusal of the contents. The Honest Drug Book presents the hidden truth about a topic which touches the lives of almost everyone. It cuts through the blustering rhetoric of the war on drugs, and documents the facts about the subject in general, and about the individual drugs specifically. This is a journey through 140 psychoactives, both chemical and botanical, each of which was personally tested and used by the author. For every drug, it lists the fundamental and sometimes life-critical information, including the anticipated onset, the common threshold doses, and the expected period of efficacy. It also describes the subjective experience: what the drug was actually like at each stage of the duration. These 'trip reports' are vital, as they help to identify pitfalls and specific risks for each substance. Often, this is achieved in a humorous and anecdotal manner, which is occasionally accentuated by the fact that the author had to travel the world to undertake the experiments lawfully. In addition to these often rich and lengthy reports, the book is crammed with data and general information, inclusive of legal briefings, relative harm tables, addiction and overdose advice, detailed reference material, and even a drug dictionary. Of critical importance is the first section, as it introduces the basics of harm reduction, in the form of a 10 step procedure to help mitigate risk. The same section explains core safety issues, such as how to test and identify a drug, and how to properly establish a dose. The book itself is lavishly illustrated with hundreds of photographs, including of the drugs themselves. The images in the botanical section also encompass some of the indigenous settings encountered on the journey. The full gamut of psychoactive chemicals and botanicals is covered. The well known include: LSD, heroin, cannabis, mephedrone, kratom, cocaine, 2C-B, DMT, yopo, methamphetamine, salvia divinorum, ketamine, ayahuasca and MDMA. The lesser known include: betel nut, 4-ho-met, changa, TPA, 4F-MPH, ephenidine, ololiuqui, cebil seeds, mapacho, MNA, celastrus paniculatus, yohimbe, and MEAI. The scope also extends beyond the most common categories of hallucinogens, stimulants, depressants, cannabinoids and opioids. Included, for example, are nootropics (smart drugs) and oneirogenics (lucid and vivid dream herbs). Another dimension, which is covered largely in the final section, is that of politics and the war on drugs. This is confronted head-on, with a statement of intent which is crystal clear: "People are dying because of ignorance. They are dying because unremitting propaganda is denying them essential safety information. They are dying because legislators and the media are censoring the science, and are ruthlessly pushing an ideological agenda instead. They are dying because the first casualty of war is truth, and the war on drugs is no different. This book is a step to counter this harrowing and destructive situation." Emphasised and underpinned throughout is personal safety and risk mitigation. This is the first and last message, and guides the entire narrative. This is a book that won't only fascinate and inform: it will save lives.

Abadinsky explores all aspects of the drug and alcohol abuse issue, including the impact of drugs on our society; history; pharmacological impact of drugs on the body; policy implications of drugs; the criminal justice system response; the effects, treatment and prevention of abuse; theories of use; drug business; and drug law enforcement. Reports on the latest data on drug concerns provide further examination of alcohol and explore the abuse of additional substances such as "club drugs," inhalants, herbal stimulants, and designer drugs. The major drugs are arranged into depressants, stimulants, hallucinogens, and cannabis.

This handbook provides a comprehensive examination of the past and present roles of drugs in society with a focus on theory, research, policy, and practice. Includes 28 original chapters with multi-disciplinary and international perspectives by top social and behavioral scientists Reviews current knowledge in the field, including key research findings, theoretical developments, and methodological debates Identifies ongoing controversies in the field, emergent topics, and areas in need of further inquiry Discusses individual drugs as well as topics like physiological theories of drug use and abuse, public health implications of drugs, patterns of drugs and crime, international drug trade and trafficking, and designer drugs

Drugs are a large part of our modern world. We use them to recover from illness or get rid of a cold, and we abuse them to stay awake or to achieve a "high." Some drugs -- like aspirin, caffeine and nicotine-- are legal, and others -- like marijuana and cocaine -- are prohibited. And though we all rely on drugs to some extent, few of us understand the ways in which these drugs work and why some of us may be prone to addiction. This book explains the biological, psychological, sociological, and health-related effects of drug use and abuse. Solid research supports the frank and informative manner in which the material is presented. The book focuses on all types of drugs -- from inhalants to over-the-counter drugs, to nicotine and caffeine -- and arms readers with the tools to make intelligent decisions and to understand the many ways in which drugs affect their world. Health professionals, teachers and others interested in the topic.

Drugs in Society: Causes, Concepts, and Control, Eighth Edition, focuses on the many critical areas of America's drug problem, providing a foundation for rational decision-making within this complex and multidisciplinary field. Lyman offers a comprehensive big-picture examination of the US drug problem, dealing with drugs, abusers, drug enforcement, and public policy. Organized in three sections: Understanding the Problem, Gangs and Drugs, and Fighting Back, topics covered include the business of drugs and the role of organized crime in the drug trade, drug legalization and decriminalization, legal and law enforcement strategies, an analysis of the socialization process of drug use and abuse, and a historical discussion of drug abuse that puts the contemporary drug problem into perspective. Suitable for upper-level undergraduates in Criminal Justice, Criminology, and related programs, Drugs in Society, Eighth Edition, uses logical organization and strong pedagogy (case studies, focused text boxes with related information, critical thinking tasks) to support learning objectives.