Opioid Crisis: Books

In the modern world, physicians prescribe a multitude of medications, most derived from natural substances, to treat various bodily and mental disorders and some of the substances used also have a pleasurable neurological effect, creating a sense of euphoria, a tranquilizing effect, or intensifying alertness and focus. Over time, drug addiction and abuse has become a social justice and public health concern around the world. Governments have responded to addiction and drug abuse epidemics by banning the use of certain substances, but such efforts are not very efficacious and, instead, tend to result in the birth of black markets and criminal underworld industries involved in the production and distribution of illicit substances. In the 2010s, the drug crisis du jour in the United States involves the misuse and abuse of prescription drugs, substances developed as medications that have an intoxicating effect and so are also sought and used by individuals for recreation or to self-medicate. Because the supply of drugs cannot be completely eliminated without placing patients at risk, legislators, public health experts, and others working on the issue must struggle to balance the needs of patients with the effort to stem the tide of abuse. - Publisher/Preface

Treatment of anabolic-androgenic steroid-related disorders / Harrison G. Pope, Jr., Kirk J. Brower -- Opioids -- Neurobiology of opiates and opioids / Mary Jeanne Kreek -- Detoxification of opioids / Soteri Polydorou, Herbert D. Kleber -- Opioid maintenance treatment / Richard S. Schottenfeld -- ...Buprenorphine maintenance / Eric C. Strain, Michelle R. Lofwall -- Antagonists of opioids / Charles O'Brien, Kyle M. Kampman.

In its 40th anniversary edition, A Primer of Drug Action continues to evolve side by side with the field it covers, drawing on the expertise of its authors in medicine, basic science, and clinical science to offer the most current and comprehensive guide to psychopharmacology available.