It was too straight. Lots of doctor speak. I was hoping more for a basic guide of what particular drugs do and what to look for. It is in there alright, you just have to have a PHD to find it.

Great and easy to read overview. I read this because it is clinically relevant to my job but I think that learning more about drugs of abuse is important for everyone as our kids, family members and friends may come into contact with or use dangerous substances, especially in light of the current opiate crisis.

Interesting information on drugs. The authors definitely have their biases (who doesn't?) but try to stay levelheaded while giving facts on a wide variety of drugs.

Reading for school

This is an absolutely fantastic book, but I wouldn't recommend it for a cover-to-cover read-through (hence the four stars). It's a reference book, and it cuts through all the bullshit related to drugs that has been promoted by the government in favor of pure scientific facts. Great for anyone who is interested in brain chemistry or anyone who might have a loved one addicted to a controlled substance.

all reviews in one place:
night mode reading ;
skaitom nakties rezimu

About the Book: Book is written in stead of the idiotic slogans like “Just Say No” and “This is your brain on drugs“, that provides no information, and is blatantly ineffective scare tactic that leads to mistrust among the groups of people that should otherwise rely on one another. Without sugarcoating the book provides a list of addictive substances that can and are classified as drugs, why are they drugs, how they’re used, where, how it became “a thing“. Alongside what are the withdrawals like, what are the lasting effects, irreversable ones, what are other dangers, and all the simple science behind it all. Whether then it’s still worth it or not is left fully in the hands of the reader, without any judgement, and, rather, guiding to possible precautions, safety measures that can be taken to avoid even the simplest of these becoming a life-altering negative experience.

My Opinion: A people-friendly book, easy to read, highly informative, would need a slight update already, but if there’s none by the time you’re picking it up – it remains a fine read. It doesn’t talk down, instead providing information to stay safe, and hopefully even help reconsider, or consider quitting, rehab.