In recent years‚ the media has inundated us with coverage of the horrors that befall methamphetamine users‚ and the fires‚ explosions‚ and toxic waste created by meth labs that threaten the well-being of innocent citizens. In METHAMPHETAMINE: ITS HISTORY‚ PHARMACOLOGY‚ AND TREATMENT‚ the first book in Hazelden's new Library of Addictive Drugs series‚ Ralph Weisheit and William L. White consider the two faces of this drug: a narcotic that is enormously destructive to users and the community‚ but that is also useful in a number of legitimate ways.
In separating fact from fiction‚ Weisheit and White provide context for understanding the current meth problem by tracing its history and the varying patterns of use over time‚ then offer an in-depth study of:
* the latest scientific findings on the effects of the drug on individuals
* the myths and realities of the drug's impact on the mind
* the national and international implications of methamphetamine production
* the drug's impact on rural communities‚ including two in-depth studies of counties in the Midwest
* issues in addiction and treatment of meth
Thoroughly researched and highly readable‚ Methamphetamine offers a comprehensive understanding of medical‚ social‚ and political issues concerning this highly impactful drug.
