Illegal Drugs: A Complete Guide to Their History, Chemistry, Use and Abuse (Sagebrush Medical Guides) [Paperback]

Paul M., MD Gahlinger (Author), M. D. Gahlinger (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0970313012 | ISBN-13: 978-0970313010 | Publication Date: January 2001 | Edition: 1

This detailed reference covers every aspect of illegal substance use and all 178 drugs outlawed in the United States. From medieval witchcraft to the latest club drugs, a complete overview of illegal drugs is provided, including the role of drugs in the workplace, the psychology of addiction, the war on drugs, and the biological effect of drugs on the brain. Each drug listing discusses its history, users, chemical characteristics, long-term health problems, and overdose information. A wealth of details on this controversial subject will prove informative to students, parents, and health-care professionals alike.

Editorial Reviews

Review

a ton of information ... for anyone who wants the facts, I’d say this is the one book to find them. -- Bookviews

About the Author

Paul M Gahlinger MD PhD

Product Details

• Paperback: 550 pages
• Publisher: Sagebrush Press (UT); 1 edition (January 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0970313012
• ISBN-13: 978-0970313010
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 7 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (24 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,468,654 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

43 of 45 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Accurate, But Sometimes a Little Annoying, March 1, 2002

By 

Mark K. Mcdonough "Mark McDonough" (Reston, VA USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

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This review is from: Illegal Drugs: A Complete Guide to Their History, Chemistry, Use and Abuse (Sagebrush Medical Guides) (Paperback)

I'm not going to throw rocks at this book, because there is an incredible dearth of good information on this subject, and in the information in this book is excellent. But when Gahlinger says "complete," he is not kidding. This is a great resource for the sophisticated student of the subject, with history, sociology and legal issues as well as medical info, and lots of coverage of obscure drugs. For people whose interest in the subject which is either more casual or practical (e.g. "Is this stuff dangerous?" or "What's my kid getting into?") the book may be a little overwhelming.

I cannot stress how thoroughly superior this book is to Andrew Weil's "From Chocolate to Morphine."

22 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent, readable review of the drug world, September 4, 2006

By 

David (Chapel Hill, NC USA) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Illegal Drugs: A Complete Guide to their History, Chemistry, Use, and Abuse (Paperback)

This is among the most readable reference books written. The history and relationships of abusable drugs are covered. Then, commonly abused drugs receive individual attention. The information seems accurate and factual, and the author is a University-based M.D.

Unfortunately, he doesn't always note the source of some quotes clearly in the text. This leaves one wondering, at times, if the quote was intended to demonstrate a truth or a misconception -- especially if the topic in question is controversial. There are only occasional, minor references to sensationalistic stories that leave one wondering if they're true.

The author's bias (having read 2/3rds of the book so far), seems to be that the "War on Drugs" has not worked, but he's not a promoter of drug use, noting frequently the enormously harmful effects of drugs on both individuals and society. He describes both the positive and negative uses of drugs.

While this book contains a great deal of medical info, it is written for an educated layman and is not filled with the arcane technical writing and jargon of typical medical texts. Highly recommended overall.

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Accurate, No-nonsense Information, January 28, 2002

By 

Jesse E Lane, drug policy student activist (Hampshire College, MA, United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Illegal Drugs: A Complete Guide to Their History, Chemistry, Use and Abuse (Sagebrush Medical Guides) (Paperback)

In the vein of Andrew Weil and Winifred Rosen's From Chocolate to Morphine, Gahlinger's Illegal Drugs exemplifies a complete, `safety-first' approach to discussing illicit drugs and drug use in this country. Gahlinger goes beyond simply explaining the effects of various drugs on the body and mind; he explores the non-physical -but equally important- aspects of drug use/abuse, including extensive information on the legal consequences of involvement with drugs, drug testing in the workplace, economics of the drug trade, and the origins of U.S. drug policy. Perhaps most outstanding aspect of Gahlinger's book is his thorough, no-nonsense instructions for detecting a drug overdose and seeking efficient, timely medical care for the victim- knowledge that could, one day, be the deciding factor between the death or recovery of a friend or loved one. The accurate, rational information contained in Gahlinger's Illegal Drugs is an invaluable gift for any young adult today.