|  This book provides detailed information on most of the drugs of abuse.
It is a good source of information for GPs, pharmacists, nurses and social
workers.
The first chapter discusses the global problem of drug abuse. The next
few chapters are on the main drugs of abuse: opioids, cannabis, cocaine,
amphetamine and lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD). Detailed information
is provided about these, including modes of administration, pharmacokinetics,
pharmacology, adverse effects, dependence, interactions and use in pregnancy.
Then there are chapters on the “not so dangerous” drugs of
abuse: tobacco, alcohol and caffeine. The information about “magic
mushrooms” in the plants and fungi chapter is interesting.
The two chapters on abuse of prescription only and over-the-counter medicines
are relevant for all pharmacists. It is useful to know in detail what
effects heroin and cocaine have on the body. This provides a background
knowledge, which is useful for those pharmacists who dispense methadone.
This book is detailed, which is a positive and a negative point. I suspect
it will be used more as a reference book. Every chapter needs a summary
of the key points, as reading it all may be too time consuming for most
people.
Uzma Chaudhry (a community pharmacist from Oxfordshire)
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The
Pharmaceutical Journal