Methamphetamine: Its History, Pharmacology, and Treatment (The Library of Addictive Drugs Series)

by Ralph Weisheit, Whilliam L. White

Overview

In recent years, the media have 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 people. In Methamphetamine: Its History, Pharmacology, and Treatment, the first book in Hazelden's Library of Addictive Drugs series, Ralph Weisheit and William L. White examine the nature and extent of meth use in the United States, from meth's early reputation as a "wonder drug" to the current perception that it is a "scourge" of society.

In separating fact from fiction, Weisheit and White provide context for understanding the meth problem by tracing its history and the varying patterns of use over time, then offer an in-depth look at:

• the latest scientific findings on the drug's effects 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 a case study of two 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.

Written for professionals and serious lay readers by nationally recognized experts, the books in the Library of Addictive Drugs series feature in-depth, comprehensive, and up-to-date information on the most commonly abused mood-altering substances.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781592857173
Publisher:	Hazelden Publishing
Publication date:	03/23/2009
Series:	Library of Addictive Drugs Series
Pages:	296
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 8.90(h) x 0.80(d)

About the Author

Ralph Weisheit, Ph.D., is a Distinguished Professor of Criminal Justice at Illinois State University where he has been teaching and conducting research for over 25 years. He has authored eight other books, including Domestic Marijuana: A Neglected Industry and Crime and Policing in Rural and Small-Town America. His research on methamphetamine draws together his knowledge of illicit drugs and of rural crime issues to gain a more comprehensive understanding of its effects, issues concerning the manufacture of the drug, and the process by which use of the drug spreads from one region to another.

William L. White, M.A., is a senior research consultant at Chestnut Health Systems Florida with more than thirty-five years of experience in the addictions field as a counselor, clinical director, researcher, and trainer. He has authored thirteen books, including Slaying the Dragon: The History of Addiction Treatment and Recovery in America, which received the McGovern Family Foundation Award for the best book on addiction recovery. White is the receipient of several other awards and recognitions from such organziations as the National Association of Addiction Treatment Providers, the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, and NAADAC: The Association of Addiction Professionals.

Table of Contents

Preface ix

Chapter 1 Does Methamphetamine Matter? 1

Chapter 2 Listening to Methamphetamine: The Lessons of History 25

Chapter 3 The Physiological Effects of Methamphetamine 45

Chapter 4 The Social Effects of Methamphetamine 83

Chapter 5 Cooking Methamphetamine 115

Chapter 6 Methamphetamine in Rural Communities 153

Chapter 7 Treatment and Recovery Support Resources for Methamphetamine Dependence 205

Notes 229

Index 273

About the Authors 285