Drugs Books

Older people do not react the same way to medications that younger persons might and need to be especially careful with over the counter medications and with possible side effects from taking many different drugs. Putting together a manual with overthecounter drugs and prescription drugs together in one book is an excellent idea. This is very clearly written and has short explanations of most medications including the possible side effects. Clear type makes it easy to read and handle. I highly recommend it.

I'm a patient of Dr. Eli Ehrenpreis. During a recent visit we revealed to each other that we are both authors. After I left his medical office, out of curiosity I went to the local library and picked up a copy of his "...Drug Guide for Seniors".

It turns out that Eli and his father have compiled quite a useful reference work. Accumulated wisdom regarding a huge number of drugs has been extremely well organized. The little pill you're taking won't seem so mysterious after you've studied its entry. There's a wealth of good information here that you really should know but won't find on the medicine bottle. It could become your lifesaver.

I don't yet qualify as a "senior", but I'd highly recommend purchase of "...Drug Guide for Seniors" for the home library of any older person on a drug regimen. It's quite a large book at a very low price, so you'd be better served owning a copy rather than trudging up to the public library every time you wish to refer to it.

Eye opening. We all complain about the high cost of medication by the author went the extra step and teaches how we can reduce our costs. I am giving my copy to my doctor's office so they can share this valuable information with others

This book is a great resource for health care professionals. The data is very current, and I am able to assist clients who need prescription medications but don't have the insurance and financial resources to pay for them. As stated in the book, purchasing brand name prescription drugs at retail is now a choice, not a necessity.

This book clearly defines abstinence, recovery and sobriety. an easy read and recommended for one of my classes. I would recomment it to anyone who wants to know about alcoholism and drug addiction. Even though it was written over a decade ago it still appplies today!

having worked with chemically dependent teens for 23 years I can say..YEAH! Her sense of humor comes through all the way. Let's face it ..you gotta have one when working with teens.They are wonderful breed, albeit a breed apart. MS Bell does it well!! I recommend it as required reading for all parents of teens!

If you have lived your life in the adult world for any period of time, it's time you read this book. Take a look at your emotions and relationships from a new perspective! This book gives us insight into why we behave the way we do, and then suggests ways to integrate ourselves into a broader perspective that allows us to change those things that are making us unhappy.

I sent this book to relatives in the US and abroad, and I know that it is providing us all with great information to help us heal our lives and move beyond real unhappiness and discontent.

It's a psychology book, and is not a quick read. But it makes a lot of sense and pushes you along. The references to other work are helpful and useful as well.

Good reading!

Jonh Firman's "The Primal Wound" (with help from partner Ann Gila), is definitely not just another self-help book. It is the book to read if you want to understand the deep dynamics of growing up and the wounds or the primal wound that you carry.Using the wonderfully post-Jungian model of Psychosynthesis, Firman details in clear and simple language the development of wounds and how they create a survival personality that is different from one's authentic personality. The book is a gem, full of ideas from amny sources. The integration of them will cause transpersonal theorists to take a closer look at what psychosythesis theory has to offer.This book shows that it has a lot to offer because it is integrative and synthesizing in nature. This dynamic is part of the structure of Psychosynthesis and Firman's book proves that we haven't heard the last of him. There is a wealth of material here and wisdom as powerful as it gets.

A very readable, thorough, and helpful overview of the AA Big Book. This is actually a textual version of the well known weekend long Big Book Study seminars given by two gentlemen who shall remain anonymous as in the book. I found this to be a great way to delve into the Big Book again and look at it in a structured fashion. Once you are finished with this book you will have learned about the history of AA, the history of the Big Book, read the Big Book, and actually studied the Big Book. It also contains general information on the disease of alcoholism. I believe that this is a refreshing look at the Big Book and will lead you on the path that the original AA members intended for you to follow. Most AA members at some time feel that they have received most of the information that the Big Book has to offer, this book will give you a new plan to study the Big Book and will renew your interest in the wonderful program of AA.

I had the privilege to attend the weekend workshop on which this book is based about six years ago. It was a life-changing experience for me in my recovery from food addiction. This book is almost a word-for-word replica of that workshop (and was approved by the leaders of the workshop). For anyone struggling to understand the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous, read this book immediately. It is true to the heart and soul of the "big Book" and completely modernizes the information so that it's easy to understand in today's world.

Reluctant as I am to write a review, noticing that this fine publication has gone unreviewed demands that I take some initiative. It is direct, well-written, provides sound cultural and scientific analysis and is truly enlightening. The issue of drugs and their relationship to 21st century society must be breached and its publication is a step in the right direction. A good overview of the impact the psychochemicals have had on 20th century western thought and popular culture, with proper and suitable (not condescending or patronizing) presentations of such thinkers as Huxley, Leary, McKenna, et al. If you possess interest in the subject, be it casual or serious, this book will deliver. Let's collectively wake up.

This book is a call for further scientific research on LSD (despite the bad stigma that it is given by the "establishment") and for loosening the restrictions on those scientists who want to research the effects of the drug. For one thing, the authors state that it is currently illegal for doctors to use the drug for therapeutic purposes. The drug is available only for research purposes, and as I'm sure you can imagine, there is a lot of red tape involved. So, that is the basic problem that scientists who are interested in LSD are facing. Half of the book is devoted to what I'd call the history of psychedelic drug use, and the other half to the effects of psychedelic drugs, with some of the legalities involved thrown in for good measure. As far as the history goes, there is good reason to believe that psychedelic drugs have been around for a long time, and will continue to be used for a long time. And, as far as the effects of these drugs are concerned . . . well here we get to the "good stuff". First, I think the book is somewhat dangerous, because despite what you may have been told, LSD is not a panacea. Some psychiatrists (such as Stanislav Grof) will have you believe that the drug can regress you to the time of your birth, allowing you to resolve all the existential issues in your life, and then possibly regress you further into other "far out" realms . . . where there's just no law and order, man (e.g. imagine you consciously identifying with the sperm cell that was you, this kind of nonsense is abundant in Grof's work, see his _LSD Psychotherapy_). Nevertheless the effects of the drug are profound and religiomimetic. I'm really unable to speak about a lot of this stuff because I've never taken the drug (thank God), and have never really seen anyone else under the influence of it. And, my suspicion is that while the drugs do induce genuine experiences, they aren't as meaningful as "genuine religious experiences" (whatever that might mean). So, I tend to side with Mircea Eliade and the Catholic scholar, R. C. Zaechner. Nevertheless it is clear to me at least that much is yet to be learned from these drugs and that further "controlled" research needs to be done. In any event, the stuff makes for fascinating reading, and it raises a lot of philosophical questions.

This often ignored problem is sensibly discussed in this excellent reference book, which was recommended to me by the senior pharmacist in a leading UK psychiatric hospital. The clear and honest approach to a difficult subject, makes an invaluable contribution to help physicians, nurses and users. I believe that every university and reference library, hospital and medical practitioner should obtain a copy. Top marks for including a CD Rom too. from the founder of 'APRIL' (Adverse Psychiatric Reactions Information Link) email address : info@april.org.uk

This often ignored problem is sensibly discussed in this excellent reference book, which was recommended to me by the senior pharmacist in a leading UK psychiatric hospital. The clear and honest approach to a difficult subject, makes an invaluable contribution to help physicians, nurses and users. I believe that every university and reference library, hospital and medical practitioner should obtain a copy. Top marks for including a CD Rom too. from the founder of 'APRIL' (Adverse Psychiatric Reactions Information Link) email address : info@april.org.uk

Dr. Tom Roberts has been an important figure in this field of study. I have presented a paper on "PSI and ENTHEOGENS: Stories from the Underground" at the 22rd International Conference on the Study of Shamanism and Alternate Modes of Healing. It is available from those proceedings.
Jean Millay, PH.D.

Among the wonderful psychoactive/entheogen works out there, this one ranks way up at the top - in terms of its scope, intelligence and diversity of ideas. Every inclusion has something unique to offer and - like Zig Zag Zen, and others - creates an intriguing web of ideas that intertwine and give such flesh to the overall topic.

One is taken through the spiritual, scientific and cultural dimensions by real experts in this increasingly less esoteric field.

An immaculate job. My highest compliments to Dr. Roberts.

My book places emphasis on evaluation of major issues and scientific studies. Most books on this topic focus on personal accounts, case histories, or counseling and treatment approaches.

Here is an excerpt from a review of the book published in a leading scientific journal, Addiction, 2001, 96, 782-783:

"...The book is an impressive piece of work, covering a very broad spectrum of topics. The author demonstrates an extensive knowledge of the field. Important is his underlining of the scientific base of knowledge. The main focus of the book is the American scene; European research and perspectives are not always so well covered. Nevertheless, the book will be of considerable interest also for European readers. It is well written, extensive and thorough. Both introductory students and more experienced readers will find this book valuable. It has a vast number of facts and references. .."

FANNY DUCKERT
Institute of Psychology, Oslo, Norway

A second review in a major research journal, Alcohol and Alcoholism Vol. 38, No. 1, pp. 98-99, 2003:

This single author text book identifies its target audience as psychology and social science students in the US, but its potential readership is much wider.

This is a substantial book, which covers the epidemiology, aetiology, prevention and treatment of substance misuse, together with a methodical analysis of practice and research. The author justifies his focus on alcohol, because of its status as the drug of choice in the US; he does not neglect other drugs and there is valuable work on the position of tobacco in particular. The epidemiology and political perspectives are exclusively based on US data. A more international perspective would have been welcome, but the treatment sections avoid any accusations of parochialism and it would be a pity if the book was neglected outside the US.

The advantages of a single author are evident with a consistently readable style. The tone of the book is fair and broad-minded. There is careful, at times laborious, analysis. The book is well referenced, though relatively little post 1995 work is cited. The text is well laid out and structured which helps accessibility.

The strongest sections are on the application of basic psychological principles to addictions and there are very useful reviews of `special groups' classified by age, gender and race. These are much debated, but little studied, issues and Professor Jung's reviews are a very welcome contribution. Once again, the focus is on the US, but there are key principles outlined here.

The weaker area of the book is on the inter-relationship with health problems, including psychiatric illness and this is one area which may have benefited from another contributor.

Overall, however, this is a major new introductory textbook for students from a range of disciplines. It represents an excellent starting point for new students and is a useful resource for experienced practitioners and researchers.

Peter Rice

This text is absolutely the most readible and comprehensive review of the world of behavioral science research on addiction. It is as broad and complete as any recent NIDA, NIAAA or Institute of Medicine summaries.

The sections on special populations and gender studies cannot be found easily in other places, as well as, the bibliographic references are extremely well chosen and thorough for those needing to find the seminal references.

In short, this is truly a one of a kind textbook suitable of upper division courses, a postgraduate seminar or research or program design. If you are looking for clinician's manual, this is not for you. If you are looking for a carefully selected review of research literature without unnecessary jibberish...use this text.

This book is a technical, complete and academic discussion of herbs that affect the brain, including therapeutic herbs, sedatives, as well as illicit herbs (herbs used to get a "high"). The author, Marcello Spinella, emphasis the importance of weighing all the risks and benefits of herbal medicine and discusses the latest research from scientific journals. Among the herbs reviewed here are valerian, chamomile, kava, passionflower and ginkgo. Also included is an overview of neuroscience and pharmacology. This is a very good reference book for someone serious about understanding how herbs affect the brain.

What makes this book stand out from the many hundred others out on the market is that it approaches the effects of herbs on the nervous system from a scientific, rather than pseudo- or anti-scientific, perspective. Rather than viewing herbs as being "alternative" and separate from science, Spinella scrutinizes the empirical evidence for and against the claimed effects of herbs on the brain. This book should be in every psychologist's, psychiatrist's, and physician's book shelf.