Cocaine: An In-Depth Look at the Facts, Science, History and Future of the World'sMost Addictive Drug [Paperback]

John C. Flynn (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 1993

Cocaine has been on the American scene for more than a century. This book traces cocaine's long history and demystifies its effects, focusing on psychological and biochemical evidence. A fascinating scientific journey, COCAINE details how the drug activates the human brain and hooks its users. The book also examines current approaches to the drug problem, including socio-economic factors.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

America has ineffectively waged the so-called war on drugs because Americans simply don't understand the enemy. So says Flynn, who teaches psychology and neuroscience at Baylor University. In the first place, he points out, we don't fully appreciate the diversity of drugs; different types affect the brain differently, with cocaine and its derivative, crack, the most dangerous, as they stimulate the pleasure centers powerfully. Flynn explains how the brain works and how cocaine casts its addictive spell. But he emphasizes that drug use need not be drug abuse; only a portion of the estimated 5-6 million regular cocaine users are dangerous to society, he claims. The author even predicts that "designer" drugs more addictive than crack will be developed. His solution is education based on the acknowledgment that cocaine produces good feelings--with the crucial corollary that it can dominate and destroy human life. An important contribution.
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal

Flynn's contention that our society must abandon its costly, sloganistic, one-pronged approach to the drug problem is well taken, but he fails to explore sufficiently his alternative suggestion, which is to develop innovative drug education and social action programs that address the differences between drugs and that demand a variety of solutions. Although the author, a psychologist and neuroscientist, does a nice job of describing the psychological and physiological effects of cocaine, it is not enough to make up for his scanty discussion on the future of cocaine in the American culture. The history and science sections also suffer from a lack of documentation. Comprehensive coverage of the cocaine issue for the lay reader is needed, but in this case, "in-depth" is hyperbole. Not recommended.
- Linda Knaack, Univ. of Lowell Lib., Mass.
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 167 pages
• Publisher: Citadel; Rep edition (July 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0806514329
• ISBN-13: 978-0806514321
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 5.9 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,390,417 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

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11 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The most comprehensive, yet understandable, book on cocaine, January 13, 1999

By A Customer

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This review is from: Cocaine: An In-Depth Look at the Facts, Science, History and Future of the World's Most Addictive Drug (Hardcover)

In doing a report on cocaine for a class I took I read a number of books of cocaine. This book was the most comprehensive and yet understandable book on not only the drug but its effect on every part of the human body. I never thought it would be possible to get this good an understanding of a drug and the addiction without knowing a lot of medical stuff. I recommend this book to anyone who wants to know more, especially if you know someone dealing with this addiction.