Drugs, Society, and Human Behavior [Paperback]

Carl Hart (Author), Charles Ksir (Author), Oakley Ray (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0073380792 | ISBN-13: 978-0073380797 | Publication Date: October 27, 2008 | Edition: 13

Designed for the introduction to drugs and substance abuse course as taught in departments of health education, psychology, biology, sociology, and criminal justice, this full-color market-leading text provides the latest information on drug use and its effects on society and human behavior. For over thirty years, instructors and students have relied on it to examine drugs and drug use from a variety of perspectives—in terms of behavioral, pharmacological, historical, social, legal, and clinical points of view.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Dr. Carl Hart is an Associate Professor in both the Departments of Psychiatry and Psychology at Columbia University and is also a Research Scientist in the Division of Substance Abuse at the New York State Psychiatric Institute. A major focus of Dr. Hart’s research is to understand the complex interactions between neurobiological and environmental factors that mediate and modulate the actions of drugs of abuse, including drug-taking behavior and cognitive performance. Dr. Hart’s research has been supported by the National Institute on Drug Abuse for the past several years. In addition to his substantial research responsibilities, Dr. Hart teaches an undergraduate Drugs and Behavior course and was recently awarded Columbia University's highest teaching award.

Charles Ksir received his bachelor's degree in Psychology from the University of Texas at Austin, and his Ph.D. from Indiana University in Bloomington. Following his postdoctoral training in Neurobiology at the Worcester Foundation in Massachusetts, he began a 34-year career in teaching and research at the University of Wyoming, where he also served in a variety of administrative positions. Now a professor emeritus, he focuses his efforts on teaching and textbook writing. He has taught the psychology course Drugs and Behavior to over three thousand students since 1972, and has received several teaching awards.

After graduating from Cornell University and serving a brief stint in the U.S. Army, Oakley Ray became a full-time student at the University of Pittsburgh, training to be a clinical psychologist. He completed his clinical training and moved to animal research even before he received his Ph.D. Working in the behavioral research laboratory of Larry Stein, he learned all the techniques and technologies of brain stimulation and biochemistry relevant to the expanding field of neuropsychopharmacology. Stein’s laboratory was part of a multidisciplinary research facility so Oakley Ray learned brain anatomy, surgery, biochemistry, and pharmacology. When Larry Stein moved on, Oakley Ray took over the lab, expanded it, and established it as an independent research laboratory. He continued working in Pittsburgh as an Associate Professor at the University of Pittsburgh and at Chatham College while still directing the research laboratory in the Veterans Administration Hospital at Leech Farm Road in Pittsburgh.

Following his move to Nashville to be Professor in Psychology and Pharmacology, and later in Psychiatry, as well as the Chief of the Psychology Program at the Nashville Veteran’s Administration Hospital, he became more involved in human psychopharmacology. He later served as the Executive Secretary of the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology and the International College of Neuropsychopharmacology.

Product Details

• Paperback: 504 pages
• Publisher: McGraw-Hill Humanities/Social Sciences/Languages; 13 edition (October 27, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0073380792
• ISBN-13: 978-0073380797
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 7.3 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #8,840 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #23 in Books > Health, Fitness & Dieting > Reference
  • #46 in Books > Health, Fitness & Dieting > Recovery > Substance Abuse

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent, rational, introductory text, February 6, 1996

By A Customer

This review is from: Drugs, Society, & Human Behavior (Paperback)

An excellent general overview, covering drug use and regulation, pharmacological basics, in-depth analyses of the legal drugs, tranquilizers and stimulants, narcotics, hallucinogens, and marijuana, and comments on "a rational look at drug use." Well-documented with an abundance of relevant quotes and statistics; a rich set of references follow each chapter.

4.0 out of 5 stars classic textbook, March 19, 2011

By 

Refat Rabadi "DJ Rafi" (poughkeepsie, NY) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Drugs, Society, and Human Behavior (Paperback)

Excellent textbook students pursuing counseling or health care service field. Excellent general information and foundation to start up an advance field of study. An excellent book for general reading fore anyone interested to pursue addiction counseling for drugs and alcohol. Recommended for a great reference all in one text. Excellent highly recommended.

5.0 out of 5 stars Drugs, Society & Human Behavior., August 8, 2010

By 

D.House - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Drugs, Society, and Human Behavior (Paperback)

Great book. Very easy class. I took this online as a class and it is extremely easy. The book itself is very informative. I really did learn a lot about substances and the effects they have on the human body.