Luigi Zoja argues that the pervasive abuse of drugs in our society can in large part be ascribed to a resurgence of the collective need for initiation and initiatory structures: a longing for something sacred underlies our culture's manic drive toward excessive consumption. In a society without ritual, the drug addict seeks not so much the thrill of a high as the satisfaction of an inner need for a participation mystique in the dominant religion of our times: consumerism.

This is the first volume that focuses on the lifespan neurobehavioral factors likely to determine susceptibility to alcohol abuse and its consequences. The chapters offer careful analysis of the effects of ethanol on the fetus, the infant, the adolescent, and the adult. The authors include behavioral neuroscientists and clinical neuropsychologists. Their topics range from the neurochemical and neuroanatomical consequences of prenatal alcohol to the cognitive consequences of prenatal alcohol on preschool and school-age children. The impact of genetics on sensitivity to alcohol is considered in terms of analytic tests using techniques of behavioral genetics and molecular biology. The consequences of exposure to alcohol during breastfeeding are described in experiments with human infants. The alcoholism that develops in adulthood is analyzed through the experimental study of relapse from alcohol deprivation and assessment of neuropsychological impairments and treatment for alcoholics. Drawing on extensive research that has applied techniques from molecular neurobiology and tests of learning and memory to the clinical assessment and treatment of alcoholics. The volume answers recent questions raised by the National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism and the National Institute of Drug Abuse about the role of early experience in susceptibility to later abuse of alcohol and other drugs. Although epidemiological studies can describe the problem, solutions in terms of mechanisms that mediate these effects will be found only with the kinds of experimentally oriented approaches the chapter authors describe.

In 1989 Jennifer Johnson was convicted of delivering a controlled substance to a minor. That the minor happened to be Johnson's unborn child made her case all the more complex, controversial, and ultimately, historical. Stephen R. Kandall, a neonatologist and pediatrician, testified as an expert witness on Johnson's behalf. The experience caused him to wonder how one disadvantaged black woman's case became a prosecutorial battlefield in the war on drugs. This book is the product of Kandall's search through the annals of medicine and history to learn how women have fared in this conflict and how drug-dependent women have been treated for the past century and a half. Kandall's sleuthing uncovers an intriguing and troubling story. Opium, laudanum, and morphine were primary ingredients in the curative "powders" and strengthening "tonics" that physicians freely prescribed and pharmacists dispensed to women a hundred and fifty years ago. Or a woman could easily dose herself with narcotics and alcohol in the readily available form of "patent" medicines sold in every town and touted in popular magazines ("Over a million bottles sold and in every one a cure!"). For the most part unaware of their dangers, women turned to these remedies for "female complaints," such as "womb disease" and "congestion of the ovaries," as well as for "neurasthenia," a widespread but vague nervous malady attributed to women's weaker, more sensitive natures. Not surprisingly, by the latter half of the nineteenth century the majority of America's opiate addicts were women. The more things change, the more they remain the same: Substance and Shadow shows how, though attitudes and drugs may vary over time--from the laudanum of yesteryear to the heroin of the thirties and forties, the tranquilizers of the fifties, the consciousness-raising or prescription drugs of the sixties, and the ascendance of crack use in the eighties--dependency remains an issue for women. Kandall traces the history of questionable treatment that has followed this trend. From the maintenance clinics of the early twenties to the "federal farms" of mid-century to the detoxification efforts and methadone maintenance that flourished in the wake of the Women's Movement, attempts to treat drug-dependent women have been far from adequate. As he describes current policies that put money into drug interdiction and prisons, but offer little in the way of treatment or hope for women like Jennifer Johnson, Kandall calls our attention to the social and personal costs of demonizing and punishing women addicts rather than trying to improve their circumstances and give them genuine help.

This authoritative overview of drugs and society today examines: whether a process of `normalization' of drugs and drug use is under way; the debate over prohibition versus legislation; `drugs' and `users' as `other' or `dangerous'; drugs and dance cultures; drug use among young women; images of `race' and drugs; medical responses to drugs; policing strategies and controlling drug users; drug control and sport; and the question of prohibition versus liberalization.

This volume reviews recent research into the nature and effects of addiction and considers the usefulness of policies which aim to prevent it. The contributors focus on topics such as smoking, alcoholism, gambling and injecting drug use, examining treatment and the effectiveness of prevention and intervention programmes. Such programmes include services for steroid users, needle exchange provision, and social workers' intervention in alcoholism. The reasons why people turn to substance abuse are explored as well as the real effects on health along with other subjects of importance to social workers such as the estimation of drug misuse prevalence. There is also discussion of government policy on drugs in Britain and Holland.

The National Primary Care Research and Development Centre series provides policy makers, commissioners, managers, primary care professionals and user organizations with up-to-date multi-disciplinary research on important issues that inform future decision making for primary care development. This book examines the key factors shaping the relationship between demand for, and use of, primary care. It provides a detailed picture with which to inform the planning of appropriate, acceptable and responsive primary care services. Patients' perceptions are important, not only because they are a barometer of the appropriateness and effectiveness of services, but because they are a unique source of knowledge about the way in which people use services when they do, for the reasons that they do. This book concisely presents empirical findings and summarizes key policy and conceptual issues. Other titles in the National Primary Care Research and Development Centre series: NPCRDC:What is the Future for a Primary Care-led NHS?N PCRDC: Primary Care and Social Services: developing new partnerships for older people NPCRDC: Better Building for Better Services NPCRDC: Specialist Outreach Clinics in General Practice NPCRDC: Primary Health Care and the Private Sector

In this country, drug addiction and alcoholism have reached crisis proportions. The grim statistics illuminate the size of this crisis. More than 30 million Americans alive today will become addicted. The use of alcohol, tobacco, and illicit drugs causes one out of every four deaths in the United States. Illegal drug use now costs the nation $67 billion a year. The Selfish Brain: Learning From Addiction takes a comprehensive, no-holds-barred look at the easy path to drug addiction and the tough road to recovery. Written in an easy-to-understand style, this book can help people confront addiction in their own lives and in their families by exploring the biological roots of addiction and the way addicts are allowed to deny their addiction by compassionate, well-meaning people. Based on his experience as a specialist on addiction and as a policymaker, former drug czar Robert L. DuPont, M.D., advocates "tough-love" measures to strip away the denial that allows addicts to remain trapped in their destructive habit and place them on the road to recovery. He examines treatment options, especially 12-step programs, which he believes are the most effective path to recovery. Powerful and often controversial, The Selfish Brain provides an honest examination of an insidious, destructive disease.

"I started out snorting a couple of lines a night and ended up injecting and snorting about three grams a day."--That could be your dentist talking. "I worked a lot with hangovers and made lots of mistakes when coming down off acid."--That might be your nurse. "The patient was waking up and I was out cold."--And that was some unlucky patient's anesthesiologist. Professionals trusted with our well-being are the last people we suspect of drug addiction. And yet they are at least as likely as anyone else to abuse alcohol and other drugs--a well-kept secret finally aired and fully examined in this powerful book. Drawing on more than 120 personal interviews with addicted physicians, dentists, nurses, pharmacists, attorneys, and airline pilots and those who treat them, Robert Coombs gives us a startling picture of drug abuse among "pedestal professionals." He discusses addiction as an occupational hazard for those with the easiest access to drugs, the greatest sense of immunity to their perils, and the most extensive means (and reasons) for hiding their problems. Throughout, the interviewees' eloquent and often harrowing testimony reminds us of the human drama behind the exhaustive research and analysis presented here. Their bittersweet stories bear out Coombs's contention that recovering addicts, free of their magical elixirs, can become more complete people than they were before addiction. From the biological, psychosocial, and spiritual roots of addiction to the equally diverse approaches to recovery, to the merits and failures of government drug policy, Drug-Impaired Professionals offers a clear and complete overview of a complex problem that affects nearly every family in America.

This bestselling memoir from a seasoned New York City reporter is a vivid report of a journey to the edge of self-destruction (New York Times). As a child during the Depression and World War II, Pete Hamill learned early that drinking was an essential part of being a man, inseparable from the rituals of celebration, mourning, friendship, romance, and religion. Only later did he discover its ability to destroy any writer's most valuable tools: clarity, consciousness, memory. In A Drinking Life, Hamill explains how alcohol slowly became a part of his life, and how he ultimately left it behind. Along the way, he summons the mood of an America that is gone forever, with the bittersweet fondness of a lifelong New Yorker. Magnificent. A Drinking Life is about growing up and growing old, working and trying to work, within the culture of drink. --Boston Globe

In the past, the prototypes for characterizing drug use were heroin and cocaine, so that research has focused on possible commonalities between any substance and these drugs. Addiction controversies explores the problems of the commonalities approach by looking at dissimilarities as well. The first chapters of Addiction Controversies trace the development of modern medical attitudes to drug use and the current controversy over its decriminalization. The second set of chapters examines the extent to which drugs have common biological and sociological mechanisms of action and contrasts these explanations. The final chapters consider the extent to which the desires for different substances are the same and the biological and social explanations of relapse. Clinicians, researchers and students in all areas of substance use will be stimulated by these challenges to current thinking and will enjoy the comparative approach that is taken by the contributors to Addiction Controversies.

Groups are the dominant mode of treatment in most addictions programs, yet the techniques and philosophy employed are derived from older mental health models and do not reflect the new understanding of alcoholism and drug dependency as chronic, progressive diseases.

Here is an informational and practical book that systematically addresses the complex relationships between chemical abuse/dependency, aggression, and family violence. Directed toward professional chemical dependency and family violence counselors, it provides specific guidelines for the assessment of child abuse, incest, and marital rape, as they are likely to be encountered in a chemical dependency treatment setting. Experts outline treatment suggestions for chemically dependent and codependent individuals who are or have been the victims/perpetrators of family violence. Aggression, Family Violence and Chemical Dependency contains two unique and very detailed chapters on the relationship between aggression and the use of alcohol and other mood-altering substances as well as the connections between these two and other physiological and psychological correlates of violence.

Since 1982, sociologist Terry Williams has spent days, weeks, and months hanging out" with a teenage cocaine ring in cocaine bars, after-hours clubs, on street corners, in crack houses and in their homes. The picture he creates in The Cocaine Kids is the story behind the headlines. The lives of these young dealers in the fast lane of the underground economy emerge in depth and colour on the pages of this book.

The first wave of methamphetamine use began in the late 1980s and its prevalence has continued to rise across the United States and throughout the world. As with any harmful substance, its abuse has far-reaching ramifications that go beyond the destruction it causes to the human body. Written by a multidisciplinary team of experts, Methamphetamine Use: Clinical and Forensic Aspects, Second Edition examines meth use and abuse from clinical, forensic, and criminal justice perspectives. Updated and expanded to reflect changes in recent years, this volume covers virtually every aspect of this dangerous drug. The book begins with a history of drug control in America, then provides global perspectives on methamphetamine use. It explores biochemical aspects and includes a chapter on the methamphetamine analogue "ecstasy." The text examines the effects of meth use on human behavior, with a special focus on empirical evidence of amphetamine use as a contributing factor in aggression. The authors discuss forensic issues related to methamphetamine use in chapters covering expert testimony, criminal responsibility, mitigation in sentencing, and competency to stand trial. The last section examines various treatment modalities. As methamphetamine grows once again in popularity, it is crucial that those who deal with the effects of it be well-informed about the dangers it poses. This volume provides a comprehensive, critical survey of the current knowledge regarding the use and abuse of this dangerous and ubiquitous substance.

The editors of Stress, Trauma, and Substance Use have gathered a collection of innovative chapters written by cutting edge researchers that depict both the breadth of the relationships between stress, trauma, and substance use, as well as how closely these phenomena are all too often linked. Individually, the chapters in this volume present innovative conceptual models, original research findings, and recommendations to service providers that are applicable to a diverse body of individuals affected by a wide variety of stressful and/or traumatic experiences, such as HIV/AIDS, incarceration, homelessness, sexual assault, and other forms of trauma and violence in addition to substance use. Taken as a whole, the content of this text provides a window into the true nature of the multi-layered and interconnected relationship between stress, trauma, and substance use. The untangling of these relationships holds great promise for continued research that develops a better understanding of these phenomena and ultimately improves the lives of individuals touched by these experiences. This book was previously published as a special issue of Stress, Trauma, and Crisis: An International Journal.

Cannabis is at the centre of ongoing controversial and often confused debate. Opinions on its potential impact on health are sharply divided: some argue that it poses serious risks to mental health and that adolescent use may lead to psychotic illness in young adulthood, or that it acts as a gateway to hard drugs such as cocaine or opiates. Conversely, others point to alcohol or tobacco being far more harmful yet entirely legal. Cannabis and Young People aims to shed light on the current debates by reviewing all the available evidence on a range of issues relating to the use of cannabis among children and adolescents and summarizing the main conclusions in clear, jargon-free language. Areas covered include: * Patterns of cannabis use * Changes in usage * Young people's views on cannabis * The potential harmful effects, including mental health problems, educational attainment, antisocial behaviour * The family and social factors that can initiate cannabis use * The progression to regular use * The effects of decriminalization This book will be an essential read for anyone needing informed, authoritative information about cannabis and its effects.

Written for the drug and substance abuse counseling course, this text prepares future health professionals to work with patients, clients, and families of abusers. It provides perspective on the issues associated with addiction and covers the fundamentals of the dynamics of chemical dependency. Accompanied by free access to "PowerWeb," this edition improves topic flow and brings the research base into the 21st century.

"Tobacco in History and Culture "explores how tobacco became one of the most important commodities in the history of world trade and the source of one of the biggest public health concerns in modern history. Originally used by Native Americans for medicinal, religious and social purposes, tobacco quickly became the biggest export from the American colonies. By the mid-1990s, more than 14 billion pounds of tobacco leaf were grown worldwide each year, with international treaties governing its advertising and distribution. It has affected agriculture, religion, social customs, business and trade, government policy and medicine in many countries. The unique and innovative reference work presents entries on all aspects of tobacco and from a global perspective, providing support for assignments at many levels and in a variety of fields, including history, economics, government and health.

"Tobacco in History and Culture "is the first set in a new reference line, the Scribner Turning Points Library. Future titles will explore other discoveries and historical events that have changed the direction of human societies worldwide, whether through sudden upheavals or gradual evolution.

Accelerated Reader is a program based on the fact that students become more motivated to read if they are tested on the content of the books they have read and are rewarded for correct answers. Students read each book, individually take the test on the computer, and receive gratification when they score well. Schools using the Accelerated Reader program have seen a significant increase in reading among their students.

These titles for reluctant readers highlight the possible consequences of drug use, including the dangers of addiction, damage to mind and body, and increased likelihood of violent behavior.

Evaluates the progress and implementation of the Arkansas tobacco settlement program. Documents the initiation and first two years of activity by the seven funded health-related programs set up under the Tobacco Settlement Proceeds Act, evaluates their progress, and makes recommendations for future program activities and funding.

WHO has produced a first comprehensive analysis of global tobacco use and control: The WHO Report on the Global Tobacco Epidemic 2008. The report confirms that the global tobacco epidemic is one of the greatest public health threats of modern times that, left unchecked, could result in one billion deaths in the 21st century. The epidemic is shifting towards the developing world, where 80% of tobacco-related deaths will occur within a few decades. The shift is caused by a global tobacco industry strategy to target young people and adults in the developing world. The report concludes that although there has been progress in recent years, virtually every country needs to do more. Currently only 5% of the world s population is fully covered by any one of the key interventions that have significantly reduced tobacco use in the countries that have implemented them. The WHO Report on the Global Tobacco Epidemic 2008 identifies as powerful response to the epidemic a set of the six key proven strategies to drive down tobacco use - the mpower package - whose implementation provides the best chance for saving millions of lives devastated by tobacco: 1. Monitor tobacco use and prevention policies. 2. Protect people from tobacco smoke. 3. Offer help to quit tobacco use. 4. Warn about the dangers of tobacco. 5. Enforce bans on tobacco advertising, promotion, and sponsorship. 6. Raise taxes on tobacco. The WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC) created political momentum for global tobacco prevention. The mpower package provides a clear roadmap to help countries fulfil and build on their WHO FCTC obligations and save many millions of lives by the middle of this century. Countries are not alone in combating the tobacco industry, which is powerful and cash-rich. WHO, together with its partners, is scaling-up capacity to help implement the mpower strategies at country level. The WHO Report on the Global Tobacco Epidemic 2008 highlights the potential for partnerships to tackle the tobacco epidemic in developing countries. By taking action to implement the mpower policies, governments and civil society can create the enabling environment necessary to protect people from second-hand smoke, help people quit tobacco use, and prevent its initiation.

This title was first published in 2000: A study of drugs - the different kinds of drugs, the reasons why people take drugs, the ways in which people have used drugs, and some of the difficulties to which drug-taking can lead. The various hazards of use discussed include the physical and psychological health of users, the social penalties incurred by use of abuse, and the risk of dependence. In addition, the effects of drugs may be directly linked to the drug effect or indirectly related to behavioural patterns of use or to social consequences of use. The book is also about the ordinariness of drug taking. Where drugs are presented as though they were something alien and unusually dangerous, it tries to put drug-taking in a more balanced perspective, showing that even those who drink tea or coffee are drug takers. There are updated definitions of the main terms used within the fields of drugs and alcohol.