Uppers, Downers, All Arounders: Physical and Mental Effects of Psychoactive Drugs [Paperback]

Darryl Inaba (Author), William E. Cohen (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0926544284 | ISBN-13: 978-0926544284 | Publication Date: July 30, 2007 | Edition: 6th

Health, Mind, & Body/Psychology & Counseling
6th Edition. CD can be downloaded from the site.

Product Details

• Paperback: 602 pages
• Publisher: Cns Productions; 6th edition (July 30, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0926544284
• ISBN-13: 978-0926544284
• Product Dimensions: 10.9 x 8.4 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (54 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #40,337 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good text on just about every subject of drug abuse, April 5, 2008

By 

Guy F. Airey "The Chemist" (San Antonio, TX USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Uppers, Downers, All Arounders, Fifth Edition (Paperback)

The authors, Darryl Inaba and William Cohen do a great job of keeping this book very open and simple. They cover almost every drug (5th edition) which a counselor may run into when talking with his students. As a research or higher level order book though, this would not do as it is just too brief on most subjects to really get to know indepth pharmacology or pharmacodynamics on most of the psychoactive drug actions. There is a lot of history, and even a CD-ROM to help you familiarize yourself with many topics of addiction in a very short period of time. In some sections, there is some really good information on drugs I have not seen on the pharmacy shelves for at least 12 years. If you are someone who wants to quickly get to know the subject of psychoactive drugs, then I highly recommend this book for you. His vocabulary is such that it is easy to read, without too much of a serious tone-- and you will not even need a highliner to remember the facts. This book is packed with knowledge. Very enjoyable reading for a change, with lots of good and interesting photographs that make you think. You will enjoy this book, for it is written in a very unique format that makes you want to relax and just turn each page and learn. guyairey

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The best, February 22, 2003

By 

Anna Klein - See all my reviews

This review is from: Uppers, Downers, All Arounders: Physical and Mental Effects of Psychoactive Drugs (Paperback)

An excellent, full color and clearly laid out guide to nearly every drug on the market today, illegal, recreational, and medicinal. Lots of photographs, quotes from people who have used the drugs, side effects, addiction and safety information, charts and graphs. This book was a help to me both for researching a book I was writing and for looking up the drugs my 89-year-old grandmother is taking for her pain.

I highly recommend this book.

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Review for 3rd edition of same book, pub 1997, May 11, 2002

By 

Jumex Agrupada - See all my reviews

This review is from: Uppers, Downers, All Arounders: Physical and Mental Effects of Psychoactive Drugs (Paperback)

Note: I have not seen the newest edition - I borrowed the former (3rd) edition of this book (published 1997)...but it's SO good I'm contemplating the purchase of my own copy...but it's a GREAT book...I have paged through countless books of this and other types - this one is vastly superior to anyting else I've seen. It is complete and honest. Quite admirably, it is executed without a pro or anti-drug agenda, it is (in my opinion) a truly unbiased and informative work on the subject of psychoactive chemicals. It covers their history, use, effects, abuse, dependence, tolerance, and withdrawl.
The '97 edition was very well organized. It included all the right details - a skillful balance between completeness, efficiency in conveying the necessary details, and ease of reading (agreeably medium density material). It is a comprehensive work, suitable for both browsing and reference.

I haven't seen the newest, 4th edition (year 2000), but the 1997 edition was bettered in every way, by the inclusion of anonymous, convincing, informative accounts of recovering addicts. Those really shed light on the drug experience, lifestyle, highs and lows alike...it is very easy reading - Dr. Inaba (and his colleagues) have written an excellent work: informative, comprehensive, accessible, and entertaining (with tasteful humor).
I would recommend this book to anyone interested in learning more about psychoactive drugs and their many facets; whether you're trying to understand your teenager, experimenting yourself, or self-educating as a policy-analysis primer... this is the book for you.

Note: this book does not include information on the preparation of any "drugs", it is strictly an educational reference, not a drug user's guide.

It is a 10/10...