The Chemistry of Mind-Altering Drugs: History, Pharmacology, and Cultural Context (Paperback)

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Key Phrases: psychedelic activity, cannabimimetic activity, buprenorphine treatment, New York, United States, San Francisco (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review

"An appropriate alternative title for this fascinating, modestly priced volume might be 'Everything You Always Wanted to Know about Drugs.' The author . . . has left no stone unturned in making this vade mecum of drugs, for specialist or layperson alike, as complete as possible . . . Clearly a labor of love. . . . I heartily recommend this interesting and informative study not only to chemists and pharmacologists but also to professionals, students and educators in the health sciences as well as to science-conscious citizens concerned with the social and ethical implications of the use of mind-altering drugs in our society." --George B. Kauffman in American Scientist
"This book will provide a pleasant surprise for many readers! . . . I enthusiastically recommend it to anyone with basic science literacy who wants a good general overview of psychoactive substances, how they were discovered, and the roles they play in medicine and in our present culture." --David E. Nichols in Journal of Medicinal Chemistry
"Mind-altering substances have captivated human beings through the ages and have certainly been in the forefront of local, national, and international politics for more than a century . . . Because this subject holds the interest of such a disparate group of individuals, it is not an easy task to write a book on this subject that would appeal to a diverse audience. Perrine has made a serious attempt to write such a book . . . Very readable and chocked with information . . . providing rich descriptions of the psychological and behavioral effects of mind-altering drugs." --Journal of the American Chemical Society

Product Description

This fascinating book presents a scientificlly objective, and thoroughly documented exposition of the pharmacological and psychological effects of nearly every known substance that affects human consciousness, from alcohol to Zopiclone. It also features first-hand accounts and descriptions of the social, cultural, and religious milieus in which many psychotropic plants are used, and discusses historical allusions to many literary and scientific figures who used or wrote of mind-altering drugs, including Freud, Dickens, Yeats, and Huxley. Intended for a wide audience of general readers seeking unbiased information, the book gives an accessible explanation of drug-receptor interaction and organic chemical structures, as well as descriptions of the discovery, isolation, and syntheses of the chemical substances responsible for drug activity. Written by an experienced chemist, the book nevertheless keeps technical information to a minimum.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 500 pages
• Publisher: An American Chemical Society Publication; 1 edition (May 5, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0841232539
• ISBN-13: 978-0841232532
• Product Dimensions: 9.9 x 6.9 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #730,280 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good book about a taboo subject, February 22, 2009

By	Ajax the Great (State College, PA USA) - See all my reviews

I had to read this book for class and couldn't put it down. Perrine writes in such a way that can make any subject engrossing. Not only does he describe the effects of various substances, he also explains how they occur at the molecular level. Something most books about drugs don't do. He even discussed cultural elements, and some parts are quite humorous. It is not preachy or designed to scare and exaggerate like many books on the subject are. This book seems to be slightly biased in favor of some substances (most notably cannabis) but most of the book is about as objective as one can get, showing warts and all. You will certainly not want to run out and snort cocaine or shoot heroin or trip on acid after reading this book. But you may question the rationale as to why some substances are legal and others are not. The biggest downside is that it has not been updated since 1996, and much new information about mind-altering substances has been gained in the past 13 years. For example, we now know how DXM works on the brain as a dissociative (similar to PCP and ketamine--don't try this at home!), and back then Perrine (and others) assumed that it was just a placebo effect. I would like to see a new edition sometime soon, preferably with better proofreading and organization, as well as more information added. A good complement to this book would "The Biochemical Basis of Neuropharmacology" by Cooper, Bloom, and Roth. Though that one is not quite as interesting as this book.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Thurough and interesting, June 12, 2005

By	A. Ricks (Hell) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This book has it all, chemistry, cultural context, use, abuse, past, present and future. Is geared toward someone who has at least taken some o-chem, although non-science types could still get something out of it. The synthesis explanations can be a bit in depth, I have a degree in chemistry and a bit of that was way over my head. Book is also well refrenced, so should you ever get the urge to make some of these drugs you know where to go.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Definitive Guide, November 16, 2000

By	Rohit Gupta (Bombay) - See all my reviews

While I would not say that the merit of the book lies in its non-committal stance, I was certainly convinced that the author knew his chemistry. My reading was facilitated by the poetic interludes and anecdotes, which seem to have become a genre within science writing. Mr. Perrine should write another book, non-technical, and I am sure he will be as entertaining and informative. Inspired by his book I have released my newsletter with this theme this time.

Not to put too fine a point on it, the book is mind-altering itself. It changed the way I looked at my erstwhile indulgences.