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

Rare that one picks up a text as this and wants to read it cover to cover but in fact that is exactly what happened to me when I cracked this jewel open. I was just browsing at my university's medical bookstore and stumbled upon this invaluable text with a potent array of well documented, well footnoted, authoritative sources. If you are a medical professional, member of an allied profession (e.g., MFT's who deal with drug counseling, et cetera), or just a member of the public wishing to become more informed, this book is a solid resource to add to your library. Inaba facilitates this learning process by providing a full explanation of how psychoactive substances evolved historically, how they exist both illegitimately and legitimately in society contemporaneously, and of course how the substances actually affect the human organism on the molecular and physiological level. In short, if you were forced to buy only one text on the subject matter, this would be the one without doubt.

I am currently using this text in teaching intro to alcohol and drug studies. This is the most accessible text on the issue I have seen, and it is a keeper for the students. I have yet to see it show up on the shelves of the U. bookstore as a used text, meaning my students keep it.

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.

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...

There are many substance abuse / addiction books on the market today, but of all the ones I read, this book is the most informative and up to date. Daryl Inaba does an excellent job in presenting complex material in comprehendible language. It is definitely a worthwhile investment for every professional working in the addiction's field. The third edition of this book has been released (Late 1997).