Author Biography

Charles Ksir received his bachelors degree in Psychology from the University of Texas at Austin and his Ph.D. from Indiana University in Bloomington. Following his postdoctoral training in Neurobiology at the Worcester Foundation in Massachusetts, he began a 34-year career in teaching and research at the University of Wyoming, where he also served in a variety of administrative positions. Now a professor emeritus, he focuses his efforts on teaching and textbook writing. He has taught the psychology course Drugs and Behaviour to more than three thousand students since 1972 and has received several teaching awards.

Table of Contents

SECTION ONE DRUG USE IN MODERN SOCIETY
CHAPTER 1 DRUG USE: AN OVERVIEW
CHAPTER 2 DRUG USE AS A SOCIAL PROBLEM
CHAPTER 3 A HISTORY OF DRUG POLICY IN THE UNITED STATES

SECTION TWO HOW DRUGS WORK
CHAPTER 4 THE NERVOUS SYSTEM 
CHAPTER 5 THE ACTIONS OF DRUGS

SECTION THREE: UPPERS AND DOWNERS
CHAPTER 6 STIMULANTS
CHAPTER 7 DEPRESSANTS AND INHALANTS
CHAPTER 8 MEDICATION FOR MENTAL DISORDERS

SECTION FOUR ALCOHOL
CHAPTER 9 ALCOHOL
 
SECTION FIVE FAMILIAR DRUGS 
CHAPTER 10 TOBACCO
CHAPTER 11 CAFFEINE
CHAPTER 12 DIETARY SUPPLEMENTS AND OVER-THE-COUNTER DRUGS

SECTION SIX RESTRICTED DRUGS
CHAPTER 13 OPIOIDS
CHAPTER 14 PSYCHEDELICS
CHAPTER 15 CANNABIS
CHAPTER 16 PERFORMANCE-ENHANCING DRUGS

SECTION SEVEN PREVENTION AND HARM REDUCTION
CHAPTER 17 PREVENTING SUBSTANCE ABUSE
CHAPTER 18 TREATING SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS AND DRUG POLICY ALTERNATIVES

APPENDIX A DRUG NAMES
APPENDIX B RESOURCES FOR INFORMATION AND ASSISTANCE
GLOSSARY
INDEX

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