This comprehensive text on the pharmacological, medical and legal aspects of drug abuse has been thoroughly updated, and a new chapter on club drugs added. The chapter on medical effects has been completely rewritten to focus on infections that develop in IV drug abusers, and the chapter on drug abuse and the law now extends to the international regulation of drug use. All major drugs of abuse are covered. For each type the authors discuss history and culture, patterns of use, subjective and physiological effects, mechanisms of pharmacological action, and toxic effects. Epidemiological aspects are discussed as well as pharmacological treatment possibilities where applicable.