Drugs of Abuse

Drugs of Abuse is a concise, easy-to-read guide for healthcare professionals who encounter drug abuse.

This book has been comprehensively revised since the first edition, and includes new chapters on gamma hydroxybutyrate and the internet as an information resource. Also covered are the prevalence of drug use, a detailed assessment of side effects, and interactions between illicit drugs and conventional medicines.

Each chapter covers a particular drug group. These include:

• opioids
• cannabis
• cocaine
• amfetamines
• ecstasy
• LSD
• volatile substances
• performance-enhancing drugs
• OTC and prescription medicines
• nicotine
• alcohol.

Drug abuse is a problem which affects all parts of today's society - it is not constrained to one social class, to 'hard drugs' alone, nor even to illicit substances.

This book is an accessible source of detailed information that can be read from cover to cover, or used as a reference. It will appeal to healthcare professionals, as well as to those working with drug users in the community.

1. Introduction

2. Injection of Drugs

3. Opioids

4. Cannabis

5. Cocaine

6. Amphetamine, Methamphetamine, Ecstasy and Related Drugs

7. LSD

8. Gamma Hydroxybutyrate

9. Phencyclidine

10. Volatile Substance Abuse

11. Performance Enhancing Drugs

12. Prescription Drugs

13. Over-the-Counter Products

14. Caffeine

15. Tobacco

16. Alcohol

17. Plants and Fungi

18. Alkyl Nitrates

19. Smart Drugs

20. Internet

Appendix A Glossary of Street Terminology

Appendix B Legal Status of Drugs in the UK

 Sample chapter (242 KB)

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01-Jul-06, The Pharmaceutical Journal
'This book provides detailed information...it is a good source of information for GPs, pharmacists, nurses and social workers.'
Uzma Chaudhry, The Pharmaceutical Journal . 2006; 277: 21

01-Dec-05, Drug Development and Industrial Pharmacy
'The text is written in a clear and concise manner and the format allows one to easily locate desired information. This book is suitable as an educational tool and will likely be a valuable clinical resource for members of the healthcare community who work with drug users.'
Linda A. Felton, University of New Mexico, College of Pharmacy, USA