By Esther Gwinnell, MD, and Christine Adamec

With approximately 200 entries, this essential reference covers the full range of illegal and legal drugs and how they impact society. Taking a global perspective, it looks at the worldwide drug trade and the effects of drug abuse in countries and cultures around the world, as well as in the United States.

This comprehensive reference examines various types of drugs and how they function, risks, causes and consequences of abuse, social issues, psychiatric issues, means of prevention, law enforcement efforts, and drugs in special social groups.

Appendixes provide statistics, directories of helpful groups and organizations, and resources for further research. The encyclopedia covers the following topics:

• Accidental overdose deaths
  
• Barbiturates
  
• Club drugs
  
• Drug dependence
  
• Gangs and drugs
  
• Narcotics
  
• Opiates
  
• Pregnancy and substance abuse
  
• Prescription drug abuse
  
• Treatment
  
• Violence
  
• and more