Drug abuse is a problem which affects all parts of today's society - it is not constrained to one social class, to 'hard drugs' alone, nor even to illicit substances. This book is a concise, easy-to-read guide for healthcare professionals who encounter drug abuse.Each chapter covers a particular drug group. These include opioids, cannabis, cocaine, amfetamines, ecstasy, LSD, volatile substances, performance-enhancing drugs, OTC and prescription medicines, nicotine and alcohol. Drugs of Abuse has been comprehensively revised since the first edition, and includes new chapters on gamma hydroxybutyrate and the internet as an information resource. Also covered are the prevalence of drug use, a detailed assessment of side effects, and interactions between illicit drugs and conventional medicines. This book is an accessible source of detailed information that can be read from cover to cover, or used as a reference. It will appeal to healthcare professionals, as well as to those working with drug users in the community.

Simon Wills is Head of the Wessex Drug & Medicines Information Centre, Southampton University Hospitals Trust, Southampton, UK.